Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9th., 1931. THE ELECTORS’ FIRST DUTY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1931, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9th., 1931. THE ELECTORS’ FIRST DUTY.

THE Parliamentary session .is to encl this week, and thereafter will come a more or less hedtie period when candidates for the new House of Representatives 'will woo the electors. Before the campaign actually starts it would be well for all electors, whatever their Party political opinions may •be, to reflect seriously on the position, and determine to be guided by the special needs of the Dominion’s position, to-day, and not be unduly influenced by tradition or former Party loyalties. Every election is claimed by politicians to be “the most important in the country’s history.” Ground for such statement is often lacking, but it cannot be denied that the forthcoming struggle is of great consequence, and that it will be more than ever the duty of electors to vote, —and to vote with intelligence.

•The main issue, —indeed the only real issue—is how best to place national finances on a safer footing. Economic developments have compelled every country in the world to set their affairs in order, chiefly by lower expenditure, particularly in State administration, and what is-termed “social services.” Such enforced economies are by their very nature .unwelcome and unpopular, and easily denounced by the unthinking.

But what is the alternative ? The answer is plainly seen in the experiences of Britain, Australia, and elsewhere. New Zealand is suffering from a similar disease, and must take similar remedies if she wishes to be cured. The Coalitionist candidates will urge the nation to act with courage and wisdom. Labourites will preach a policy of .continuing the lavish public expenditure, declaring that the large sums necessary can be obtained by the wealthy being more heavily taxed.

So spoke the Labourites in the Homeland and in Australia, particularly New South Wales. What was the result ? Unemployment rapidly increased, and no class suffered greater hardships through the Labour policy, than the poor. Mr. Lang has brought New South Wales almost to ruin, and the only section of the people who may profit from' the Labour gospel of “Spend” is that class who are frankly out for doles, and who seek soft repose at the expense of all the rest of the .nation. In these days, when State Treasurers are at their wits’ end to find sources of revenue to help to balance budgets, it can be taken for granted that the wealthier in the land are made to pay their full quota, and all state* ments to the contrary can be disproved by official returns. One of the best analogies of the national position was made recently in Britain by Sir Francis Goodenough. His remarks equally apply to New Zealand. He said: — “May I draw an analogy that may help to illustrate our present position ? A successful business man falls sick and is told he must have a. serious operation. To save his life and secure his return to the support of his family, he employs the best physician, the best surgeon, the best nurse he can get. It.proves necessary for him to have a series of operations, and then there comes prolonged and*costly convalescence. His victory over disease ultimately involves spending all his savings .and borrowing heavily from his friends, while during his illness a lot of his business passes to competitors. When hit returns to business does hevsay to himself: ‘I have managed to live at a very costly rate during the past few months. I think I will go on doing so. If I could find all that money during an illness for surgeons and cars and other luxuries, why shouldn’t I go on borrowing and having a good time now I am well?’ Of course, he doesn’t unless his illness has destroyed his brain. He

says: ‘I shall have to- be very economical now and work very hard for a long time to enable me to repay my loans, restore my savings and regain my business. I am very thankful I have survived, and now it is up to me to pat myself straight again.’ ” Every New Zealand elector should reflect over the above, — and vote accordingly.