PARTIES’ STANDS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 17

PARTIES’ STANDS

Reversal Of Roles (N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, November 13 British newspapers today commented on the "novel” policy stands being taken by the Conservative Government and the Labour Opposition. The “Daily Telegraph” said: “It is novel, without being illogical, to find a Conservative Prime Minister rebutting the charge of a ‘spending spree’ and challenging Labour to specify where they would cut social expenditure programmes " “The Times" said: “On one side is a Conservative Government headed by its newlook Prime Minister, embarking on vast new schemes of public expenditure and promising enthusiastically others even vaster, and on the other side is the Socialist Opposition urging the principles of financial prudence and accusing the Government of the reckless pledging of resources. “This is a reversal of the accustomed form too complete and too sudden for the credence of the general public, which must be allowed to blink and wonder for a little longer before wholly believing what it sees on either side of the gangway.” The “Daily Herald” believed that Sir Alec DouglasHome apparently felt justified in trying anything, however cyncial. if it could possibly help a Conservative victory at the next general election.

"Whait confidence can be put in a government who after years of doing nothing decide to do everything in their last six months?” it asked. The “Guardian,” after saying that the targets of the Prime Minister were of the right order, said: “What is wrong is that this should all come in a hectic rush in the last session of a dying Parliament, from a party that has been 12 years in office and when the later years have been economic stagnation."