NO CLOSED SEASON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1939, Page 5

NO CLOSED SEASON

MR HAMILTON ASSAILS GOVERNMENT DAY OF RECKONING NEAR. "SELF-MADE CRISIS.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 27. "The decision of the Minister of Finance to take a trip Home is but another public demonstration of the seriousness of the Government's self-made crisis, the lull severity of which has not yet been revealed,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, after his arrival at Auckland today. "It is not difficult to see the series of successive troubles into which the Government has hurled the country, and among matters calling for urgent attention the renewal of the London loan of £17,000,000 necessarily must give the gravest concern.

“Mismanagement always brings a day of reckoning, and for the Government that, day is just about here,” said Mr Hamilton. "It is shocking to think that during years of record export income this country should find itself in these straits. If they do nothing else the present hardships and difficulties inflicted on the people should awaken the electors of New Zealand to the seriousness of the business of governing. It is hardly a task for experimental amateurs. It should bring home to them, too, just to what an inexcusable and regrettable extent they were kept in the dark by the Government while it safely negotiated the dangerous hurdle of the. last election. “Today the Government has forfeited its right to' the confidence of the people. Mr Savage put it bluntly enough when he said recently: ’You can’t get rid of us now. You might as well declare a closed season for the Government.' There is not going to be any closed season. He is neither entitled to it nor will he get it. The people have the right to. know the reasons that have led up to the collapse of the Government’s management. They have a right to know all the facts and should not be kept in the dark. “If the recent statements and excuses offered by the Prime Minister and Mr Nash are the best explanations on hand, then it is obvious that Labour is on the run and a return to sound and practical administration under National direction is not far distant.

“Mr Nash’s trip no doubt has its purpose, but it is also very essential that he concentrates on putting our own house in order here, particularly essential, perhaps, since Mr Nash is seeking* outside help to enable him to repair the damage he has done,”