The United Party

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 148, 19 March 1931, Page 11

The United Party

Sir, —The recent terrible disaster in Hawke’s Bay should have been treated as a national disaster by Mr. Forbes and his Government. Mr. Eorbes, instead of posing as the big strong man, should have at once appealed to Great Britain for help. It was absolutely ridiculous to ride the high horse and talk about New Zealand being independent. How could poor little New Zealand cope with such an enormous disaster on her own? The people have been wonderful in their generous donations, especially after a lean time, with all our primary products down to zero—but in spite of the great generosity, the amount subscribed is only a drop in the bucket. The opportunity of an appeal to the Homeland has gone now, and one wonders how the Government propose to find the huge sums required to put Napier and Hastings, and the Hawke’s Bay province generally, into going order. This morning’s paper points a further clear condemnation of the Government." Prominent engineers have announced that unless the river banks are restored, the first floods will, bring another calamity to Napier, probably even worse than the earthquake. How do Mr. Forbes and his weak-kneed Ministers meet this sinister situation? The answer is found in the papers. First Mr. Masters, on behalf of the Prime Minister and his Government, promised immediate assistance in May. Next this offer is withdrawn, and *-’>e River Board left in the air, with wages owing to the amount of £3ooo—and a cessation of all work on the banks that we have been told by experts is so immediately necessary to avert disaster. To-day’s paper, per Press Association message, reports Mr. Masters saying that at a meeting with the Prime Minister no definite promise had been made: further, that Mr. Jull (another United member) said Mr. Forbes had denied making any promise. Mr. Masters is further reported to have made the extraordinary statement that h~ did not think “the river question should be a burden upon the whole of New Zealand, especially in view of the assistance which had already been given by the public.” There lies the weakness of the whole party. They fail to recognise that the disaster in Hawke’s Bay must be shouldered by New Zealand, and not left to crush Hawke’s Bay still further in the slough. It is not a time for quibbling as to whether promises had been made, or not; it is essentially a time for prompt assistance by the Government. If a flood came along shortly, and worked devastating ruin—the United Party would be kicked out of power, neck and crop; but it does not want a flood to bring an end to this party. Their gross incapacity to properly take hold of the extraordinary situation that has arisen must have been apparent from one end of New Zealand to the other. The electors of New Zealand made a fatal mistake in swallowing the seventy-million bait, and putting into power such a poor weak crowd—but there is nothing surer than that at the first opportunity they will remedy that fatal mistake. —I am, etc.. THE WRITING ON THE WAUL. Palmerston North, March 10. [lt was announced last Wednesday that the Government had decided to make the River Board a grant of £OOOO on a £1 for £1 basis, the board to be lent £5OOO by the Government free of interest for two years.]