"MORE THAN A PALLIATIVE"

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1932, Page 6

"MORE THAN A PALLIATIVE"

We can understand the impatience of rural members of Parliament when the time of the House is occupied with seeming minor matters, and there is little visible progress toward a settlement of greater economic difficulties. Yet;. these members of Parliament should try also to understand how great a task is facing the Government. The Prime Minister summed it up in a few words last night, when he said: — - We are impressed with the plight of the farmers, but we want to be sure that we have something more than a palliative. We 'are seeking a sound way out of Our difficulties, and there is one thing, we have' to find—the money/, .." .'.-,. ;' . ■ . Numerous palliatives.have been suggested and some have been adopted. Our unemployment and! farm subsidy schemes L are .to a large extent palliatives.' -.Subsidised farm labour, fertiliser, and'rate subsidies give re- i lief; but they do not provide a solution. In so far as they place greater burdens on industry through taxation and make Budget., equilibrium! more difficult of attainment, they postpone the application of true correctives. This is unavoidable, but it is not desirable that the palliative plan should be" used to excess. We' do not wish to see real remedial action delayed, but: it would be a mistake now to insist that the Government should yield to agitation and submit half-considered proposals just to satisfy a demand that "something must be done at once." I