The Hawera Star TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935. LLOYD GEORGE’S NEW DEAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 April 1935, Page 4

The Hawera Star

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935. LLOYD GEORGE’S NEW DEAL

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho. Oeo, Pihama, Opunake. Eltham, Ngaere, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakarar mea, Alton, Hurleyville. Patea, Whehuafcura, Waver ley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai. Meremer*. Fraser 2oad and Ararat*, 1

Politics in Britain are shaping for a duel between Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Chamberlain stands for middle conservatism, and is really ie controlling force in the Conservative Party machine. Mr. Lloyd George has stood aloof from politics for three years, and now reenters the arena as an old public servant, freed from party ties, bent only on stirring the politicians to more strenuous constructive action. The former is a purist in finance and somewhat bureaucratic. The latter would cut the traces with the past where past methods have failed, and make bold experiments m the lio-ht of common sense. Mr Chamberlain has been the incarnation of that stubborn orthodoxy and caiefulness which rescued Great B . tain from the reckless finance of the Socialists three and a halt years ago. Mr. Lloyd George has given new inspiration to those who are insisting that the time for extreme caution and orthodoxy is over and that the nation now needs an attack all along the hne on the evil of unemployment. The campaign which Mr. Lloyd George h!as opened is not an attack upon the Government as such. It is a demand for a new programme, of action, he himself offering his support to any Government or any group of politicians which will accept his method of grappling wffh unemployment. Six years ago, when asking, as he is now, that there should be large expenditure of public money on useful public works that would absoih the unemployed, he was ndwu e by Conservatives. But now th situation has changed. The need of the country is greatei, ana money is cheaper. There are many Conservatives in Parliament who believe that the planning and re-equipment of industry is needed both to improve its permanent organisation and to give work to the unemployed, They believe that it is better, to spend money on public works that are economically sound than to spend it, without any return on doles These Conservatives, thcrefoie, no less than Liberals, have been cheered by Mr. Lloyd George s stirring campaign, and have n - formed their party chiefs of tlieir resolve that he should have a hearino-, In his opening speeches Mi Lloyd George has not claimed that ho has given an exhaustive statement of the details of his programme. He has suggested that there is urgent need of expenditure on schemes to electrify railways in urban areas; to house the working classes, to improve < roads, to drain land to 00-ordnt ate water supplies, and to recondition the land and the farms for agriculture. These are preliminary suggestions; blit to explore the possibilities to the utmost he demands the appointment of a body of businessmen and economists who would make a comprehensive survey of what is needet to re-equip the country for the purposes of industry, agriculture and transport. His speeches, delivered with his unfailing energy, have made a profound impression. The Government at first poon-. poohed them. Then under the pressure of public opinion, it became more respectful and Cabinet lias promised its careful consideration. It will have to decide whether ll will repose on the orthodox policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or whether it will swing round toward the methods of Mr. Lloyd George. If it takes middle course, and no more,, if will have to face severe criticism from its own back-benchers and the foimidable attacks of tlic most powerful platform orator in the country.