CARRYING ON

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 112, 4 February 1933, Page 10

CARRYING ON

One element of uncertainty has been removed by the Government’s win in the critical division on the Banks Indemnity Bill. Its defeat would simply have added another confusing factor to an already troubled situation. No acceptable alternative government could have been found within the present House; a general, election would have caused damaging disturbance to the country s whole economy, with no guarantee of producing at the end of it a stable administration. Now that the House has ratified the high exchange policy, the decision will have to be accepted. It will be far better if everyone realises that fact, and settles down to make the best, and not the worst, of it. There is a hard road ahead and kicking against the pricks will not help. On further questions of Government policy alone there are many points calling for earnest attention—attention which will be the better given if regrets and preoccupations about exchange are put aside as vain, for the time being at least. Not that the hot controversy need be written off as loss.. J.he quickening of public opinion on this question, as on the .Macintosh privilege case which preceded it, will have been salutary, if now the air is cleared of bitterness. Citizens have awakened to an unwonted vigilance. The pity is that they were not earlier aroused to an active concern in public affairs. It will be all to the good for the country and the Government if citizens keep up their guard. A closer scrutiny of policy was needed and is still needed. If that vigilance is given in the spirit of helping rather, than hindering, if it is suggestive rather than merely condemnatory, if the motive is to build up rather than tear down, then the State will be the healthier and the stronger. The Labour Party has provided a poor apology for his Majesty’s Opposition, because it has devoted itself to sterile, blind and factious opposition. If public, opinion, galvanised into action on one issue, continues its role of vigilance in a spirit of co-operation, it will supply this lack of intelligent and constructive criticism.