The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1930. THE GOVERNMENT'S TASK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 20 August 1930, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1930. THE GOVERNMENT'S TASK.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistanot, For the future in the distance, And the good that tee can do.

The cynical saying' that it is the duty of an Opj:> jsition to oppose is illustrated by the House debates on the Government's proposals. Again and again the complaint is made that the extra taxation is net warranted, and there is vague talk of economy, but of constructive statesmanship there is hardly a sign. As an old Parliamentary hand, the Prime Minister no doubt takes this kind of opposition with a good deal of philosophy, but in a speech yesterday, in which he complained of the hindering tactics of the Opposition and of its failure to appreciate the seriousness of the financial position, he showed some resentment, for which we can hardly censure him.

It has never been suggested in our comments that legitimate economy has reached the limit. We are sure more money could be saved, and Ave hope that before Mr. Forbes leaves for England he will have a heart-to-heart talk with his colleagues on the subject. What we object to is the assumption that great sums can be saved forthwith by lopping branches off the tree of State services and grants. There is an example of what Ave mean in to-day's news about the grants for Plunket Society work. The fear that these were to be reduced has been allayed. The work done by this movement is beyond praise, and everybody would regret if the Government Avcrc forced to cut doAvn assistance to it, but the fact that all parties protested against the suggestion, and that the Government is not going to do Avhat Avas feared, illustrates the difficulties that the Government meets on the road of economy. Every economy proposal evokes protests, and in many directions savings can be made only at the expense of national Avelfare.

As for taxation of petrol and roading finance, the Government's contention is sound that in the national interests legislation governing highways policy should he subject to revision. Especially in such a matter as this, where the conditions arc new and changing, and the community must necessarily feel its way by means of experience, it would be absurd to contend that a policy once adopted must not be altered. The Prime Minister thinks that the whole position of the Highways Board should be examined, and he proposes that this be done next session by a Parliamentary Committee. There can surely be no objection to this; it is no reflection on an institution recently set up to deal with a new problem that it should be considered to be in need of inspection. The only regret is that the operation Will be postponed for a year.