GLOOMY PRIME MINISTER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 116, 8 January 1932, Page 4

GLOOMY PRIME MINISTER

Like the man who has a shave once a week whether he needs it or not, the Prime Minister of New Zealand emits a gloomy " dirge once a week whether he needs to or not. Mr. Forbes has been spending the holiday season in the bosom of his family at Cheviot but even this respite from the atmosphere of Parliament does not seem to have had a tonic effect on his spirit of optimism as witness his latest statement published yesterday. Mr. Forbes's statements, and indeed his outlook generally, are in marked eontrast to those of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, and to give him his due, the ex-Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Mr. J. H. Scullin. Widely divergent in general poliey, these two gentlemen are of one mind regarding the necessity of maintaining public confidence, with the result that Australia knows just what is before it and is tackling the problem with an optimism and a determination that are already showing results and the outlook in the Commonwealth is at present far more cheerful than that in New Zealand. What if we are up against it economically; surely everyone realises^ the position by this time and what is wanted from the Prime Minister is not constant muttering about the difficulties of the position but a strong, resolute and cheerful lead to the people. Mr. Forbes may or may not be a fmancial wizard ; that is a question the future alone will answer, but past events demonstrate clearly that he is a poor judge of the psychology of the people whom he aspires to lead. He lamentably fails to realise the fact that the people take their cue from him and that he is doing very poor service to the country by constantly talking of further sacrifices. If the Prime Minister was deliberately and malevolently endeavouring to undermine business and public confidence he could not go about the matter more effectively than he is doing. It is the uncertainty that is so unsettling and so tragic. When Mr. Forbes talks of further sacrifices to be made at some mdefinite date he causes an atmosphere of apprehension that is very often not justified by the realisation of the actual fact. By long distanc'e talking about further drastic mcasures to come, the Prime Minister creates business uncertainty and loss and he makes it harder than ever for the unfortunate citizen to find the wherewithal to make the sacrifice when called upon. Although the position is actually very much worse in Australia than it is here, the Commonwealth is making a far speeclier recovery than New Zealand, mainly because her statesmen are giving a courageous lead to the country. Mr. Forbes' and others of his pessimistic frame of mind might with advantage follow the example.