A CONVINCING SPEECH.

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 8

A CONVINCING SPEECH.

The promptings of a commonsense understanding of New Zealand’s economic and political problems rather than any suggestion of stubborn party bias will convince ,the anti-Lahour section of the community that in Mr Adam Hamilton the National Party has chosen a thoroughly capable leader. The policy speech which Mr Hamilton delivered at Wellington last night was full of “ meat.” If it was consistently critical of the Government’s legislation the fault did not lie with the speaker. It would not be logical to aver that Labour is quite wrong in everything it does, but it is an unfortunate fact that its much-too-fast methods of ruling the Dominion leave so many loopholes for critical comment that no supporter of the Nationalist cause need spar long for an opening. The Opposition leader lacks the gift of fiery oratory which has carried many a less talented man into a position of premature authority, but in his solid Scottish way he is a “'bonnie fighter.” He has proved that in the House of Representatives on many occasions, notably in the early days of Labour’s accession when a few of his colleagues sat dazed and almost dumb on the Opposition benches while members of the new Cabinet prattled triumphantly on the subject of their idealistic “ onward and upward. ” theories. In his latest speech Mr Hamilton has not swerved from his original views oh any point. There has been no need for him to do so, for the course of political events in New Zealand has precisely followed the lines of his prognostications. If his address contains nothing that can be termed specifically new, it is nevertheless worth reading if only as a means of cementing confidence in the one oause that is likely to stabilise living conditions in the Dominion. ,

It will be interesting to see whether the Prime Minister will respond to Mr Hamilton’s challenge regarding his (Mr Savage’s) statement that the operations during the last financial year would result in a reduction in the national debt. During the previous year over £5,000,000 was added by the Labour Government to the national debt, and last session a good deal more money was borrowed. Present appearances indicate that only a miracle or some supreme example of financial wizardry will bring about a reduction in the debt. As to claims that the unemployment problem has been solved, Mr Hamilton makes the inevitable reply when he states that unemployment is not costing less, so far as taxation is concerned, than it was when extreme figures were admitted. Leader of the Opposition nuts it mildlv when he states that New Zealand’s economic conditions are largely affected by her export prices. If, by some unhappy chance, those prices fall, Mr Savage and his henchmen will find it hard to keep up their high-flying mode of progress. According to Mr Hamilton, the Deputy Leader of the Government (the Hon. P. Fraser) was once asked what he would do if the export income fell by, say, £20,000,000. Mr Fraser, being a careful Scotsman and a man who we feel sure does not approve of his country “ living dangerously,”- replied that he was not prepared to say offhand what he would do. The position to-day is that what measure of success the Government has achieved has been contributed to liberally by overseas conditions conducive to profitable trading.

Mr Hamilton’s outline of the problems facing the farmers, especially the dairy farmer, is illuminating, and should be studied carefully by all who have been harbouring the view that the man on the land has been “ nursed ” by the Government. The promise of the guaranteed price system may have been a good election plank at a time when the higher cost of production and living generally was not visualised by the people. Towards the end of the year the Government may be hard put to it to think of some new method of appeal if it is to retain the allegiance of a section of the' community in the country electorates which was largely instrumental in giving it the big working majority in 1935. The Leader of the Opposition makes an obvious point when he draws attention to the difficulties New Zealand women are facing when they seek to balance the home budget. This is a task which is taxing feminine ingenuity almost as much as 'during the depression period. Despite earlier assurances from the “ nothing to fear ” party, the cost of living has risen steadily year by year. Immutable economic laws are not easily influenced by political diatribes threatening punishment for business individuals who dare raise the price of their wares to the public. The workers of New .Zealand have enjoyed their most satisfactory measure of protection from sound government, plus compulsory arbitration. Mr Hamilton makes it clear in his speech that if his party is returned, compulsory arbitration n;ill be retained, and that the

matter of hours, wages, and conditions in industry will be left to a free, unfettered and uninstructed Arbitration Court. When this protection is afforded and the cost of living is kept at a reasonable level, life in a country like New Zealand can hardly be made more satisfying.