PREMIER’S STATEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 10

PREMIER’S STATEMENT.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Though I do not anticipate the likelihood of Mr Forbes replying to this letter, I submit it to you in the hope that someone who shares his views may take the opportunity of replying and enlightening me on a question that has often given me cause for perplexity. It concerns the possible bankruptcy of a nation; the inability of a country to meet its obligations, not because of any cessation of the production of basic wealth—the fruits of broad acres—but due to the policy or administration of a given Government. In his criticism of the Labour Party, our Prime Minister, speaking ;in the House on Thursday, envisaged the dire results that would accrue were Labour to occupy the Treasury Benchles. Put Labour in power at the next ! general election, said Mr Forbes, and New Zealand would drift into a state ;of bankruptcy. Now bankruptcy, as I |understand it, is a state of being leg|ally insolvent, or unable to pay debts; i failure in trade. This means that a j bankrupt .is minus the assets to meet jliis liabilities. Now this is where the i perplexity I have mentioned arises. I How can a nation, whatever-Govern-ment be in power, be accused or admitted to be in a state of bankruptcy i when the source of all wealth is still I unimpoverished ? Does Mr Forbes im- : ply that because Labour holds the reins of government an angry Providence will cast a blight upon the seasons; that the humble bovine will go dry as a protest; that sheep, like sheep, will be led astray; that proj testing seed, "realising the injustice i being. perpetrated by Mr Savage and !His bad men, will refuse to fertilise? Surely this cannot be. And if it cannot be. how is it possible for New j Zealand to become bankrupt when her assets are the same as when Mr Forbes was at the prow? Money! Ah, yes; that might be what the Prime Minister means. We might be short of money. Something like the man with his lari dor full of good, wholesome food; his j garden heavy with crops; a weatherproof roof over his head —but no ; money, not a cent. Of course if money 'was really necessary to save a nation | from bankruptcy or starvation (and ; 1 cannot imagine microbic bank notes making a satisfying meal to a hungry man) we could always sell or exchange some of our surplus produce to those who had more money than produce. Perhaps here again Mr Forbes fore|sees a difficulty in disposing of goods [produced with the taint of Labour attached to them. I can fully apiareciate jMr Forbes’s point of view and envisage the tragedy of a choleric English j squire choking over the mastication of a piece of prime Canterbury lamb on learning that it had been grown in a country governed by Labour. Yes, I admit there are difficulties ahead for New Zealand should Labour win the i general election, but I cannot see where this bankruptcy business comes in. I have thought and thought, but it is no use. Perhaps some abler pen than mine will enlighten me.—l am, etc., , JUSTICE.