The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1917. TRENCHANT CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1917. TRENCHANT CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT.

The tedium of the debate on the Ad-dresa-in-Reply was relieved by the speech of Sir John Findlay, who signalisnl hi--, reentry into Parliament by a poweridi iiivl."tment against the Uovernment. The member for Hawke's ißay was relentless in his criticism, and as he may be regarded as being freshly in touch 'With popular opinion his remarks had all the greater force. Whether he merely gave expression to his own views or the views of his constituents, he certainly voiced the feelings of a very large proportion of the unbiassed' people of the Dominion. He presented his case with the art of an expert, and his logic was unanswerable. It may seem an anomaly that a powerful, supporter of the Government should administer so drastic a eastigation to the National Ministry, but it is time that all illusions were dispelled and the shortcomings of the Government orrjpliasised in no uncertain way, the more convincing by reason of there being a total absence of petty fault finding, while the object in view was evidently the correction of faults which are developing into a serious constitutional lapse. Those who carefully read the necessarily condensed report of Sir John Findlay's speech will have noticed that ho took the Government to task for its autocratic methods in not sufficiently consulting the people's representatives. We have already commented on this fact in relation to the reports of the Efficiency Board, which affords a striking example of the new departure from democratic tenets. Want of cournge was another grave fault mentioned by Viin critic, who considered that the Government's outstanding weakness had been exemplified in its conapicuous failure to grasp the nettle of difficulties with a strong hand. He miglit have gone a step further and pointed out the woeful lack of initiative of the Government and its tendency to leave to private organisation much of the work that should have been undertaken by the State. Sir John made, moreover, a strong point when he charged the Government with paying more regard to sectional interests than to those of tin community in general, and this is seen in the failure to reduce the cost of living, although a great' parade has been mnde of keeping down the price of butter, the means adopted being universally condemned. What has the Government done to keep down the price of meat and other necessaries? Opened State butchers' shops in two or three places and left tlfe Test of the Dominion to their fate, and it has pressed, is ■ pressing and will Dress very herd on

people (.f limited income who arc also expected to contribute > numberless patriotic efforts, the mvd .for which would not have arisen had the Government instituted a fair and equitable system of meeting ; arising out of the vva'' jiiid organising the resources of the Dominion in sucli a way as to ensure equality of sacrifice according to means, while aliens ineligible for military service are allowed to reap a harvest. This question of equality of sacrifice is the very foundation of our help in the Empire's cause, and on this hinges all other matters, including military service. Nothing; short of universal service could meet the. requirements of the war period. Everyone should ibe compelled to do his or her part in service or contributions of money, so ns to mako the sacrifice equal. Can anyone truthfully claim that the principle of equality of sacrifice is carried out? We think not, and in this view there is a general acquiescence. Surely it should be enough, for men to give their services in the army without having to sacrifice the hard earned results of years' of toil on the land or in business. Although the war is dragging on there is still no,organisation of resources in N,e\v Zealand, the result being that gTave injustice is perpetrated in numerous instances, while numbers escape their due share of tho burdens that should be equally borne by the whole community. The Government has lacked courage to "grasp the nettle of difficulties with a strong hand," and it is time to pub an end to such weakness by compelling all, without fear or favor, to shoulder the burdens entailed by the war. There is far more meaning in the outcry for the conscription of wealth than meets the eye, and Sir John Findlay will be doing good service if he has the courage of his convictions and uses it to rouse Parliament to a proper sense of its duties. At present the Dominion is ruled by officials, military and civil without any cohesion. What is wanted is a strong and fearless Government actuated by the intention of giving all sections of the community, and especially our soldiers, a fair deal.