A TIME FOR CANDOUR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 10

A TIME FOR CANDOUR

When the Government decided to retrench heavily in land defence its difficulties were greatly increased by the failure of the Minister of Defence to deal candidly with the public. Official information was not given until the facts had all been obtained unofficially. Even when the subject was brought formally before Parliament there was not the clear enunciation of policy that an issue of such importance demanded. Now there are reports of further retrenchment, and the Minister is following the same course as before. He is withholding information while numerous and unofficial statements are gaining ground. This is neither justifiable nor good policy. The public are entitled to be fully informed of the Government's intentions. It is not a private matter which a UniLed Government or any other Government may settle secretly. Moreover, secrecy is bad policy. A temporary advantage may be gained by refusing to make plans known until they have been put into operation; but this temporary advantage no Minister of the Crown is entitled to take. In the end, also, it creates greater difficulty. Candour would serve better, and the public have the right to demand candour.