The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1936. ABILITY TO PAY THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 10

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1936. ABILITY TO PAY THE PUBLIC SERVICE

The Minister of Finance conceded, when moving- the second reading of the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives last night, that the Coalition Government had “real difficulties to face in 1931. Nevertheless, he argued that the reductions in salaries and wages then effected “need never have been made.” Glancing for a moment at the Government’s own position as an employer it seems extraordinary, if the “cuts” were unnecessary, that Mr. Nash had no adequate reply to Opposition interjections suggesting that the restoration be ante-dated to April 1, instead of July 1. As a matter O practical politics the suggestion had very little to commend it. Retrospective legislation, of whatever type, ought not to be encouraged. But if it were wrong to make cuts in Public Service salaries in 1931, and if what is being done with such a fine gesture to-day be intended to right that wrong, the Government could surely have made the restoration in the early part of the session, or, making it now, could ante-date its application. Is the Government by any chance short of money? On the face of what Mr. Nash had to say last nio-ht and having in mind his earnest desire to present a Budget as attractive as possible, the elector will be left with the impression that July 1 is the earliest date from which the Government can afford to restore wages. And that, of course—lack of ability to pay—is the very reason the Public Service “cuts” were imposed four years ago. Moreover, returning prosperity probably would have led to their restoration this year no matter what Government was in power. There is only one thing easier than being generous in good times: that is blaming someone else for economising in hard times.