FOR COUNTRY’S GOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 6

FOR COUNTRY’S GOOD

AIMS OF GOVERNMENT “FAIR SPIN” WANTED Press Association DANNEVIRKE, To-day. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, was the chief speaker at a dinner given to the old identities of the coast district of Southern Hawke's Bay, held at Dannevirke and attended by many descendants of the original settlers. During his speech he made the admission that he was, so to speak, cramped iu the expression of his thoughts now he was a Minister. It was, he said, far easier to criticise a Government when in opposition. As a Minister of the Crown it was his duty to defend the Government. Shortly after his election to Cabinet rank he had made a public statement. He had been giving his personal views rather than those of the Government, and was more or less taken to task by one of his farmer schoolmates, now a member of the Government, who impressed upon him the necessity at ail times of being loyal to liis chief. “We desire, as a Government, to render the best possible service to the country without regard to party considerations," proceeded the Minister. “It has been said that, as the Government has a slender hold upon the Treasury benches, it will legislate in such a direction so that we can hold down our jobs. I can assure you that, so far as the present Cabinet is concerned, It will place the country absolutely above party, and will legislate in the Interests of the whole Dominion and not for any particular section. It is our intention to bring forward legislation that will assist the development of the Dominion to a maximum degree, and we leave it to the country to say whether our action is right or wrong.” During his tour through the country the Minister said he had found a disposition among all sections that the Government should he given an opportunity to introduce its legislation and to have a “fair spin.” For 16 years the Reform Government had been given an opportunity to bring its legislation into effect, and the country was sporting enough to allow the Liberal Party to bring forward its programme. No one need be ashamed of its work in the fcast, and throughout the country he found a feeling of confidence in the Liberal Party and the Government of the day.