"MUDDLING ALONG"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 396, 3 December 1932, Page 5

"MUDDLING ALONG"

("Post" Special Commissioner).

CABINETS METHODS STRONG ATTACK BY DEPUTY LEADER OF, LABOUR * PARTY PROPOSED AD J OURNMEiSlT '

Wellington, Friday. The announcenxent made by thyo Prime Minister came like a bombshell to everyone," said Mr. M. J. Savage, deputy-Leader of the Labour Partj commenting to-day on the adjournment of the! House. "For weeks past it has been obvious to onlookers that the Government party was seething with discontent owing* to the fact that comparatively trivial matters were oceupying the attention of the House while the major questions — the position ' of farmers in particular — were being relegated to the background. " A large section of th'e Government party, in desperation and . . in order to do something 1o ease the position of the primary ^producers, waited upon the Governmmxt v/ith a view to having the exchange rate liftcd. s . . "They were put off with the excxise Ihat such a policy was one for the 1 anks and not for the Government. In due time, the Bank of New ZexJand, after nxature consideration, de..ided that it would not be in the inerests of the Dominion ro adopt such :i policy and submitted alternative proposais. • Wait Two Months "We are now informed by the 'rime Minister that pxuuary produci*s and others must await approxiaatcdy two months before remedial vxeasui-es can be put forward. "While Ministers are taking their ime to consider the problems that ; ave been developing for years, the v/ealth ixi every forrn is disappearing r.nd human sacrifices are multiply;■n g," said Mr. Savage. "The Government that is unable to grapple with a situatioxx that has been growing .,'orse for a long period without first aking a lengthy adjournment so as tq give Ministers a further opportunity o understand their job, is surely '.ankrupt of everything that looks like jolitieal sagacity. In view of all the irc-umstances. particularly the disiressful conditions under which ihousands of relief woi-kers, farmers .:nd others are labouring, it is difficult o find words sufficiently strong to ixpress one's indignation. Th'e reolutionists of a weelc ago within the Sovernment party have evidently ■een subdned and are content to joiix with the majoxiity of members xn aking an enforced holiday wrhile an '.ncompetent dietatorship xnuddles ..long with the affairs of State."