BIG CHANGES IN CANADA

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21363, 4 January 1935, Page 9

BIG CHANGES IN CANADA

MR BENNETT'S PLAN CONSERVATIVES' ELECTION PROGRAMME SWEEPING REFORMS SAID TO BE NECESSARY (UNITED PKB3S ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH—COFTOIGHT.) (Received January 3, 7.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, January 2. Opening his general election campaign to-day, Mr R. B. Bennett (Prime Minister) announced that the Government would go to the people on a programme of reform which he believed would bring prosperity and security against future depressions. "The time has come," he said, "to change the economic system. In my mind reforms mean government intervention, control and regulation, and the end of laissez faire. Such reform heralds certain recovery. There can be no permanent recovery without reform. I raise the issue squarely, and nail the flag of progress to the masthead, and I summon the power of the state to its support. "If we cannot abolish the dole we should abolish the system. "Since the Government took office, its policies have been determined by the critical nature of the circumstances. We had first to save the ship and guide it into less troubled waters. "The economic system will now be examined without prejudice of any sort. We neither hate nor love it. If it has failed we must change it." Mr Bennett said there would be ample time for the electorate to study the proposals, which would be outlined specifically in later addresses.

Rumour places the probable election date any time from April to October, with the later date more probable.