GOVERNMENT'S OPPORTUNITY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 155, 23 February 1932, Page 4

GOVERNMENT'S OPPORTUNITY

In its comment on the dangerous financial and economic situation which confronts the Dominion the "Post" has repeatedly emphasised the supreme and urgent necessity for action on the part of the Government with a view to meeting and overcoming the innumerable difhculties of the situation and preparing the way to the recovery of national stability. Point has until very jecently, been lent to the implied criticism by the Government's reliance upon words and more words as a substitute for the action which it miist have known was vitally necessary, but which it appears to have been incapable of taking. , In the delicate situation existingj Hasty or iil-advised action would,, of course, h^ve been highly dangerous, but it is at least questionable whether inaction has not proved equally so. The situation to-day strongly suggests that it has. Forecas.ts.of tjie iegislative^ programme tp> be plaeed before the emergency session- — the first' meeting of the new. Parliament — which is to be commenced today, indicate that some extremely painful measures^ are considered necessary to stop the present disastrous drift in the country's finances. There can be no doubt that these have been rendered more painful than they need have been by the Governraent's delay.in facing its responsibilities. Even now. it can frardly be said.to be facing thepi as it should because; instead of itself examining the inany iqr'gent questions conf ronting. it and, making its decisions in ..the iight of the knowledge thus obtained and upon its own responsibility, as is its undoubted duty, it turned the examination over to a multiplicity of commissions and advisory committees .behind which,, ,if the past is any criterion, it will probably end by seekihg shelter. An example, as pathetic as it is tragic, of the ineffectiveness of mere talk in the practical affairs of life was provided in yesterhay's cable ne\ys from Geneya, where the Cduncil of the League of Natipns.is still ende^vouring to talk the.japanese and Chinese out of the war which now no .longer merely threatens^ but has actually begun. In what was described as a dram^tiq appeal, to Japan to delay further hostilities, the French president >of the Council, _M. Boncour, after talking of ground red with blood and strejyn with dead, .ended, with the words: "While we ar.e tajking, a hig :battle will be begun." The irony of the situation was that while this sincere leader of the body expressly created to prevent war ,w,RS uttering these ,w°f ds, the battle of which he spokfe was actually raging, . ihe militaFy comipahders i on both sides being , equally unati'ected by both the f words themselves apd.the dyamatic circumstances in which. they were delivered. In this there is. a lesson for the Pominion's Governiherif, if it can only be, dRiven home. to Its m.embers. Pretty words, moving words, words of alf'kinds are useless.to solve the country's problems and Kft its burdens. -What is required. .is action, and oifly, carefplly cppeeived, well planned and iirmly prosecuted action.is likely to.have the least effect upon the enemy within our gates.., The Government fia's its ppportunity. Parliament has been callea together ; experts, have been commissioned to examine and advise and the country is waiting with remarkable patience and no -little sympathy, But things cannqt go on as they have been, .and the Government miist prove itself. It must now show conclusively that its mejnbers,, both collectively and individually, have -the capaeity and the c'purage to carry out the task it has undertaken. The possible results of another failure on its part do not bear contemplation.