SHORTAGE OF FUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1939, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF FUNDS

COMMENTS BY OPPOSITION LEADER, COST OF LIVING BOUND TO RISE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 31. “The present position of our overseas funds is certainly alarming, but the public must understand that the cause of the shortage of funds at this stage is none other than the Government’s ill-considered policy,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, in an interview this evening.

Asked about developments since the election, Mr Hamilton said there had been some serious and rather startling admissions by the Government that really should have been made public before the electors exercised their votes last October.

The Government had interpreted the election result as a mandate to proceed apace with its advanced ideas. State regulation and control of exports and imports was no doubt pleasing to Government members and was in line with their socialistic programme toward a totalitarian State. “There has evidently been some suggestion that Parliament should be called together to consider the question,” said Mr Hamilton, “but that would be a useless and expensive proceeding, for the net result would be a decision to approve the Government’s socialistic programme by two to one. At the general election electors made their decision and the Opposition must abide by that decision, even if the Government's policy results in much hard-y ship.

“One thing is certain—the cost of living must rise, despite Ministerial warnings. It does seem' a bit incongruous for a Government which had just raised railway rates 10 per cent to complain of others raising prices to meet extra costs."