Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20th., 1938. PREMIER AND CONFERENCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20th., 1938. PREMIER AND CONFERENCE.

WS Mr. Savage naive or shrewd? When he assumed Ministerial office, the seeming artlessness of his speeches attracted sympathy, when not support, but experience suggests that he is not so guileless as was at first supposed. His continuous appeals to the emo- 1 tions, and the reiteration of his

love for his fellowmen, especially if they are “poor and down-trod-den,” are good propaganda, even although his sincerity is not, questioned. From the Prime Minister’s speeches, an outsider might be pardoned for believing that the typical New Zealander of today, is one who needs every help from a paternal Government, if he is to keep the hig had wolf from his door. Legislation is mainly framed to meet the demands of “the fellow who is down below.” The ideal responsible for this effort will receive general support, but, there must be reason in all things. Mr. Savage insists that since Labour has taken charge, New Zealand has reached record levels of prosperity. Why, then, so widespread, need for State assistance?

Air. Savage expressed his pleasure with the personal reception he received when attending this week’s Labour Party conference. What else did he expect? If a Party gathering did not enthuse over its leader, there would be something very wrong. Such demonstrations are common to all political and other chiefs, and if gratifying to the recipients, are not really epoch-making. Air. Savage should be, by this time, accustomed to vociferous applause from Labour gatherings, which do right to express' their loyalty to their leader. There is no need for moralisings, however, on what is normal. Party leaders should not forget the Biblical injunction to those who think they stand, to take heed lest they fall. History abounds with instances of the acclaimed of to-day, being the rejected of to-morrow.

As for the Conference decisions, there was little that was surprising. It was felt that further education was necessary of the people, concerning the advantages of Socialism. Apparently, the experience of the last two years of Socialism in practice has not been convincing. Despite their enthusiasm, the delegates urged the Government to do more to increase real wages. The,workers arc finding that the rise in the cost of living is more than any increase in wages they have received. The latest figures issued in the official Abstract of Statistics are significant in this respect. The probabilities are that costs will go higher as the year progresses. The Press representatives not being permitted to attend the conference, readers have to accept, the officially supplied reports of the proceedings. Under these circumstances, comment is handicapped. There is, of course, no question of the accuracy of the official reports, but it is doubtful if these are as informative as possible. What is suppressed may be more interesting than what is told. For instance, did not the Conference have anything to say concerning the proposed national health and superannuation schemes? If the delegates "were silent, numerous workers are not.