The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1924. THRIFT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 August 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1924. THRIFT.

Delivered e«ery evening by & o'clock in Hewer*, Manaia. N^rinanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oiiangsi, Mersmere, Fraeer Road, and Otakeua Manutabi, Alton, Hnrleyville, Macigat-ofcl, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

In the course of a speech in the House last week, Mr. 0. J. Hawken, whose speeches invariably give evidence of careful thought upon the subjects discussed, made some remarks upon housing and loans which, we think, merit more than passing notice. Mr. Hawkeni expressed the opinion that- he believes in people owning their homes, but he does not believe in everybody who wants to become the possessor of property rushing to the Government for a loan. Mr. Hawken believes in people trying to help themselves by practising economy and thrift, and in his speech he touched on a serious weakness of modern times —the attitude of so many people to secure from the Government what they could and should provide for themselves. Each year finds large numbers of deputations waiting upon Ministers with requests for loans or legislation for the advantage of sections of the people, and if Ministers refuse to grant the requests without demur, a cry is raised against the Government, and ail kinds of reasons are given as to why the Government has refused. Loans to assist people or sections of the people are quite in order up to a point, but it is absolutely unreasdnable to expect the State to undertake responsibilities which should be faced by the people themselves, and which they could well face if they would live within, their means arid make sacrifices in order to economise and practise thrift. One notes the numerous requests for the lending of money for this and that, and one cannot but ask: “Where is all this money to come from?” “Borrow it/’ would no doubt be the reply of those making the requests, but do they ever stop to think of the serious position that might arise through excessive borrowing? It seems to us that the matter of loans from the State is getting out of bounds, and that the ceaseless requests, in many cases they are more in the nature, of demands, are an unhealthy sign, and indicate that large numbers of people have either forgotten, or have never learned the necessity for economy and thrift. In the Budget the ' Minister of Finance emphasised the danger of over-borrowing, and also expressed the opinion that there were signs of extravagance, against which he uttered a warning. If, one thinks for a moment one can easily realise that unlimited borrowing from the funds raised by the State must end in disaster, and that carried to its final .stage it would amount to borrowing from oneself. One is very sympathetic (probably more sympathetic than the voluble Socialist, who lives in a cloud of so-called idealism) with the worker who is struggling to make the best provision for his wife and family, and who is economical and thrifty, and one believes in the State giving him reasonable assistance. We know that the Government has much sympathy for suc-h a man, but one cannot support those (and probably there are many) who seek to exploit the means provided by the State and to score at the expense of the taxpayers. The Dominion is carrying a heavy debt, a large portion of which is due to the war, and people who think over the position seriously are anxious lest the burden become too heavy. Loans for very large amounts have to be met within the next few years, and though it is hoped that the high standing of the country will enable the redemptions and conversions to be made without difficulty, it is possible that the transactions will increase very considerably the country’s interest bill. The position is such as to make it necessary for both Government and people to economise to the utmost, consistent witli progress and development. Loans for purposes that will be reproductive are justified. The Government, as trustee for the whole of the people, has a duty to keep a firm hand upon the State’s financial transactions, otherwise the country may be engulied in a maelstrom of borrowing and debt. If those who are in a position to do so would only practise thrift and set out with determination to accomplish that for which some seem to think the Government should find the money, we believe that the pressure upon the State would ease considerably, and it would go a long way towards solving the great problems which the country is facing. Apart from the material benefits which accrue from the individual practising thrift and economy, there is an important etl'eot upon the character. If everything is made easy and personal effort is not required to secure what one needs, there is a, tendency for the character to lack the determi nation and grit which are so essential to the British citizen and the welfare of the race. We hope that Mr. Hawken’s remarks have given rise to individual thought upon a. question of great importance, and that people will decide to practise economy and thrift more than they have in the past few years.