WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1930, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ECONOMY

AN URGENT NEED. (Special Correspondent A WELLINGTON, June 2. The local daily papers took care that the Wellington public (lid not overlook during the week end the call of the new Prime Minister to economy. Tin “Dominion” the first in the field, was not content with merely saying “I told you so.” It emphasized the facts and gave the Hon. G. W. Forbes credo if or li is candour. “His very frankness and straightf or \v arc 1 1 levs s, ” it said should disarm factious criticism and secure for him when he asks, the loyal co-operation and support of the people. He has already gone so far as to sug.gest a saving of half a million on defence and to announce ‘drastic economies’ in other departments, including education (for which the annual h i reaches the clolossal sum of four millions) and hospitals, curl ailment of sub ' •’'•Res in various directions, duel a close sklies in various directions, and a close overhaul of railwayexpenditure.” Tim morning 'paper went on to show that tut for the writing off of eight million from the railway account last year the ins? ifor that period just closed would have been £1.600.000. As it was it increased by over' £600,000. TALK OF COALITION. The “Evening Post” while commending Mr Forbes for his courage and his promptness was doubtful as to how the nublic would regard his candour. “We wonder,” it is said, “if Mr Forbes realises fully what this means to him and to his party. Hitherto, the United Party has had little experience of the .ffect of curtailing expenditure. It entered office to infuse new life into Dominion trade by bringing in fresh capital. It won favour for promising more and paying more. Where it economy, ed (as with the Rotorua-Taupo line and the Palmerston North deviation) tin critics were comparatively, few. in num-; 'ier.-i Now Mr'Forbes must lead fstronger attack on a wider front. , At every point, 'if.’ lie- practices economy as he has advocated it, lie will' find the massed battalions awaiting hipi,” Of course the “Post” in reitei ating those truisms had in mind the United Reform coalition it has been so assiduously advising during the-last (few months. .With many other observant authorities, entertaining the same view of the situation, .it, is conceivable this . solution of the problem will he brought | about. "

THE ALTERNATIVE Tile “Post” is very much in earnest but a little illagieally assumes that the first step should C'Omo from the L luted Party. ‘‘lf the Prime Minister has not yet thought of this,” it say," be wise to consider it quickly. Otherwise he may And that Reform has even less liking for fusion that it has hitherto evinced. Reform members may reason with themselves. Let tlu United Government do the unpleasant work and get the blame. Afterwards we shall profit by its unpopular*!,Trulv the Government is in a difiicur position. If it balks at eonomy am lots the position go from bad to worse, it will be condemned as incompetent and possiblv ejected for mismanaging the finances. If it faces the job courageously it will win credit m some, quarters but it is doubtful if this credit will be enough to balance at election time the resentment of those who have been offended by the economy measures.” The parallel of the Mar Galvnct can scarcely lie appropriately applied to the present position. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. There was a very material difference between the War Cabinet in which Sir Joseph Ward joined forces with M> Massey to hear the Government’s war burdens .than there would be between the Coalition Government, the “Post” •,s urging as . a safeguard against the Labour Party. The very existence of the Empire was at stake in 1910 and Labour, as readily as did Reform and Liberal, threw iself wholeheartedly ■n the side of the nation. No doubt if Labour, speaking generally, were m the same position again it would do exactly as it d : d during the Great Mar. But for the United and Reform parties to waive all their political differencesmight lie, to renounce many of their more cherished aspirations—would be to stay the progress of the nation for an indefinite period. Mr Holland and Uis colleagues are quite sincere when they say they want to see the United and the Reform parties in the same camp. Such a combination would afford Labour the only opportunity liklev to carry it to office during the next lecado.