THE ROLE OF THE CRITICS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 263, 2 August 1941, Page 8

THE ROLE OF THE CRITICS

One of the more emphatic passages in the reply of the Minister of Finance to the Budget debate dealt with the criticism to which the Government had been subjected. He seemed to think that during a time of war criticism should cease. No doubt the Minister’s chief concern related to criticism of the political actions and domestic policy of the Government. The answer to this complaint is plain enough. There would be no political party criticism if there were no party politics. If the Government will persist in retaining lhe partv system in wartime and in advancing its domestic party policy and programme despite the national emergency with which the nation is faced, then criticism also must continue. If, on the other hand, the Government would follow the example of the Mother Country and abolish party politics for the duration of the war then criticism both in and outside the House, would be concentrated on the essentia purpose of increasing the efficiency of the fighting. Services and utilizing the resources of the country to the best possible advantage in furthering the Dominion’s war effort. . When the British Chancellor introduced his Budget last April a leading London journal said: “It would be churlish, to use any language but that of commendation of a Budget speech in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer accepted so many suggestions and obeyed so many of the injunctions that have been addressed to him ... by the critics.” In this country there has been a widespread demand that the Government should give the community, a strong lead by effecting economies, and not rest content with urging others to save. Had there been any evidence in the Budget of that step being adopted, then the Government would have been given full credit for it. • But the official returns show that, despite the war, there has been a steady increase in ordinary expenditure, and the Government must be urged to change its way and practise what it preaches. The estimated ordinary expenditure this year, when compared with that for the last pre-war period, and excluding defence items, shows an increase of over £4.000.000 and the current year s expenditure is on the same high scale. It is the duty of critics to point to such facts as these and to urge the Government to do all that is necessary to adjust fully the finances of the country to a war basis. Other units in the Empire are doing it, for it is sound policy. There is political criticism about these and other matters because the party in power insists on continuing with its political proposals almost as though there were no war comitments or obligations overshadowing everything. The initiative to effect a cessation of political strife is in the hands of the Government, for it alone could put a temporary end to party disputations. Then the criticism could be centred on the prosecution of the war, and, as Mr. Churchill has admitted, that can be most helpful. It is futile to complain about critics and at the same time persist in retaining the conditions that call for criticism.