Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1932. NEED FOR COURAGE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 April 1932, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1932. NEED FOR COURAGE.

sorry story was outlined by Mr. Downie Stewart, in the House of Representatives, last evening, which makes it more desirable than ever that the nation should keep up its courage, and determine to co-operate, which, in this case, means general sacrifice. Criticism and censure would be easy. The Minister himself, confessed that his own personal views are opposed to some items in the Government’s policy, but he regards it as a duty to accept the decision of the majority. Some such similar acceptance of unpleasant facts must be followed by all sections of the community. The fact of the enormous prospective deficit in national accounts is the only reply to denunciations of wage-cuts and increased taxation. That these are deplorable in themselves, and must cause hardship and suffering, is unquestionable, —but what alternative has the Dominion, if a way to surer foundations is to be found from the financial morass, to which past extravagance has led the country ? Vain regrets will not pay the debts incurred, and as repudiation is no part of national policy, the burden must be shouldered with determination, inspiration being acquired from Britain’s action when j.n even a worse plight, coupled with a resolve to learn the lesson the present unhappy experiences teach. Any other attitude must add to the country’s difficulties, making what is bad, much worse. Leaving the general for the particular, the Government’s proposals—allowing for the necessity of really drastic retrenchment—seem to be on the right lines. Comment is handicapped, meanwhile, as the details are not yet fully known, but the main principles are clear. Wage-reductions in the civil service are to be made with more recognition of the hardship to the lower-paid, and an effort is to be made to reduce rentals, so that what may be lost in one direction is gained in another. Unfortunately for the workers, it is much easier and quicker to reduce wages than rents. The Government pro-

mixes to “effect certain economies in expenditure,” but what this actually means is not to be revealed meanwhile. Further taxation is de-

dared to be unavoidable, but here again patience has to be maintained.

The proposal to extend the life of Parliament for another year, is quite unjustified, and it is bad tactics, to say the least, for the Government to go out of its way to add to its unpopularity by such a proposal. Extension of Parliamentary life would be a fair topic for debate, in normal days, but any attempt by the Government to force such a. measure through by a majority given to it for some other purpose, would be a grave breach of trust. Mr. Forbes and his colleagues should not shut their eyes to the fact that confidence in the Coalition Government has received several shocks of late, and that the time is most inopportune to take any advantage of the result of last year’s hopes.