BE PREPARED.

Evening Star, Issue 23237, 10 April 1939, Page 3

BE PREPARED.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—At last the Prime Minister has admitted what Messrs Hamilton, Coates, and others told us during the election campaign—namely, that the country was getting into a perilous financial position owing to the way the Government was squandering public funds. And how Mr Savage denied their statements and stigmatised them as,traitors to their country! Now this same gentleman tells us that during September and October; the months ! prior to /and the very ones in which the election was held, there had been a drop of £7.000,000 in London funds. Why didn’t he tell us this during the elections? Oh. dear no; that would not have suited his plans. Then he tells us that, after four of the most prosperous years in the history of the Dominion “he had to take steps immediately to insulate the country against shocks from overseas.” Strange that no other parts of the Empire have experienced these shocks. Evidently the shocks he fears are the ones he will experience when it comes to “ settling day ” with London bondholders. He was in a very communicative mood yesterday, and goes further in warning us what we may expect by adding, “ the difficulties to-day were beginning and not ending.” No longer does he repeat his oft-repeated note. “ You have nothing to fear”: so we must gird up bur loins and get ready for, what is coming.

Another pre-election rally cdtlj of the Labour candidates was “ no rise in the cost of living.” but at the same meeting as the Prime Minister Mr Nash has “ spilt the' beans” and'told ns that the increase has only been 13.3. per cent., or nearly 3s in the £1: but to this has to be added the, payment, under , the Social Security Act and the enormous rise in taxation; On top of all this; we have the 10 per cent, rise in railway fares -and freights, which bad to. be "imposed because of the enormous loss at which this branch of transport was being carried on. Another sign of the bad state of thousands of peoples is the fact that for months past the* withdrawals from the. Savings Bank have exceeded, the deposits by over £1.000,000 a month. The Prime. Minister for-

got to mention this yesterday, hut while ! the deposits exceeded the withdrawals he was always drawing attention to it as one of the blessings the people had received from his generous hand. Perhaps shyness prevents him from referring to the matter, and this may account for the fact that he never now

mentions the promises he made about .the reduction in the rate of exchange, 1 complete removal of the sales tax. and the many blessings he' would pour forth to the B radio stations if only be got into power. Listen to the touching appeal which he made on their behalf hr the House in September, 1935: ‘‘ From my place in this House I say if ever I have the opportunity of providing an alternative-means of publicity it shall be provided, and I shall see that the B class stations generally are develoned., The Labour Party refuses to allow their crucifixion 4 to take place in front of our eyes.”. Evidently he and the Labour Party have had, their backs turned while they carried out the total extinction of the very stations to which he referred.' Their tender hearts would not allow them to look upon the work of their own hands.- 4ZM listeners will be more sympathetic towards these tenderhearted v men . when they realise that' they had to turn their backs rather thin “isee ” the crucifixion take place before/their eyes,”-—I, am, etc., We Will Remember P,S ’—The warrants for “ the crucifixion ” of the B stations must have been signed by the Minister for Broadcasting, the Prime Minister, whose words I have quoted.—l am. etc., ' , April 7. Observer.