GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 6

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

A large number of people who elected our Labour Government to office are due to a rude awakening so soon as a serious effort by Parliament is made to put the proposals into practice. As a Labour supporter I had no delusions, believing tliat a change of Government was necessary on more enlightened and practical lines, and that it was essential on the broad field of political experience that the general public should test the value of legislative action to alter economic The limitations of Parliamentary power (political action) will quickly be seen so soon as the Government tackles, or attempts to tackle, the economic problems that beset Xew Zealand and the world. These problems are deepseated and foundational and are inherent within the fabric of the present political economic system and 110 substantial remedial action can take place within the shell of the present commercial order. Any serious legislative proposals would dislocate and disrupt trade and industry and throw commerce into disorder. Attempts to unduly raise the national standard of living, pensions to aged and infirm, etc., would increase costs of industry, thus preventing New Zealand selling her products to Britain and other countries. The international competitive order demands a reasonable parity of costs under penalty of no business, and our Government and business men would soon realise that legislative tinkering with impractical social legislation is impossible within the present economic regime. The Government can effect economies in many fields, remove defects and institute efficiency, and as a consequence will have some surplus for social betterment. ECONOMIC REALIST.