FINANCE AND POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 6

FINANCE AND POLITICS.

| Speaking- on Saturday at Wellington, the Acting Prime Minister stated that "the finances of New Zealand are on a perfectly .sound footing," and he added that his conversations with Sir O. Niemeyer and Professor Gregory had produced in his mind the impression that they shared his views. Mr. Ransom further reminded his audience that New Zealand is not in the same position as Australia in regard to its financial responsibilities. Finally, after he had stated that "the credit of the Dominion had never stood higher in the British Empire or the Old Country than it stands to-day," he. referred to Sir O. Niemeyer and Professor Gregory as convinced "that this country will at all times recognise its full liabilities and obligations, and meet them in the proper financial way."

All this is straightforward and obvious enough, and it would hardly require comment if it were not for the persistent efforts made by the "New Zealand Herald" to misinterpret the situation. Our Reform contemporary, is so anxious to make out the worst possible case against the Government that it charges Mr. Ransom with trying to conceal by "meretricious" arguments "the unpleasant, indeed alarming, facts of New Zealand's position." But the balance of its comment upon Mr. Ransom's speech is made up of purely partisan criticism of Government policy in regard to internal administration. Now it should hardly bo necessary to point out that the "financial position" with which Sir 0. Niemeyer and his colleagues are apparently satisfied is the status of New Zealand abroad in regard to loans and debts. Mr. Ransom has never suggested that he has consulted Sir 0. Niemeyer about our internal administrative ■problems. Nor is he likely to do so, for Sir 0. Niemeyer has been asked to report not upon such, matters, but on questions of banking, currency and exchange. In short, the "Herald's" criticism has no real bearing on either the Acting Prime Minister's speech or Sir 0. Niemeyer's opinions. It is due simply to the deeply rooted conviction of so many Reformers that the proper function of an Opposition is at all costs to oppose, and that their chief duty in life is, if possible, to put j the Government in the wrong.