“ONLY RAINBOWS”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 27, 13 November 1935, Page 5

“ONLY RAINBOWS”

SOME PROMISES TO ELECTORS.

LABOUR HECKLES MR FORBES.

(Per Press Association). WANGANUI, Nov. 12

With an attendance of 2000, every available 'seat in the Regent Theatre and. every inch of room which th© liic authorities would permit to be occupied was taxed to-night by the mggest political meeting Wanganui has seen for many years, its purpose being- to hear the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), defend the actions of the Government over the hardest four years this country has ever faced. Mr Forbes spoke in characteristic fashion and had to cope with an audience which was largely composed by supporters of Labour. There were occasions when the Minister drove home his points with telling directness and amid silence from those who were there to heckle them. On other occasions, notably when he was dealing with the subject of guaranteed prices, Labour supporters gave voice and it was difficult to follow the trend of the speaker’s remarks from the press tables other than to get the gist ot die statement that “there are many rainbows being offered the electors of this country, but they are only rainbows after all.”

Mr Forbes told his audience plainly that New Zealand, faced with tlie greatest economic crisis in its history, had looked to the Government to put matters right and \be Government Had not shirked its duty. There wtere unpopular things to do. That was always the case when a country was up against falling revenue and slump conditions, and when the demand for team work came there were men who preferred to take the easy road and do the criticising while the Government carried on and did its duty. Mr Forbes said that far from being against the principle of democracy, the appointment of commissions and boards was allowing the people a voice in their own Government.' When any drastic change in action was contemplated, was it not advisable that tlie fullest possible information should be obtained? he asked, and then quoted the Dairy Board and Meat Producers’ Board set up by their own industries to market their own produce. Who was there who would do away with charitable aid boards or education' boards ? Concluding the speaker sa—that the Government had sought team work when New Zealand faced a national crisis. It had had to do unpopular things. He was proud of the way the people of the country Jiad faced the position. Conditions were improving and New Zealand was winning through on safe known lines as followed by Britain. -