Manawatu Daily Times Will There Be a Dissolution ?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6619, 4 August 1931, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Will There Be a Dissolution ?

Test cricket, football and the weather, rather than politics, occupied the attention of the public during the week-end, and it is difficult yet to say whether the Government has strengthened or weakened its position by the production of its Budget. That the Prime Minister has faced his difficult task with courage and candour is admitted on all sides; but that he has adopted the right course towards the solution of an extremely difficult problem still has to be demonstrated. One thing admitted by all sections of the House, and by those outside Parliament who have acquainted themselves with the annual array of figures, is that neither Mr. Forbes nor any of his colleagues have withheld information to which the public is entitled. The whole story of the year’s doings and undoings—necessarily not a very cheerful recital —is told simply and frankly. Following upon the reading of the Budget in the House there were a number of wild suggestions, particularly from the Labour benches, implying that the Government had deliberately set out to increase the burdens of the wage-workers; That the wage-workers suffer in this respect, as other workers do, goes without saying; but the aim of the present Government had been, as that of other Governments, to reach equality of sacrifice. The new tea duty will add about Is 2d a year to the outgoings of each member of the community; the new sugar duty less than 3s a year, and the additional taxes as a whole about 13s 4d a year. Beer and tobacco and gramophones are included in this sum, and, of course, it always is open to the frugal wage-worker to dispense with such luxuries. The great need of the country is “work” and towards this end the whole community should be striving. The Evening Post, which cannot fairly be accused of excessive party bias, reminds both Reform and Labour that they are not exactly playing the game towards the Government. “Critics of the Budget proposals, if they wish their criticism to be accepted as sincere, must be prepared to show what else they would have done,” it says. “Faced with a similar emergency, the Reform party, we think, would have adopted much the same course. Responsible Reform opinion is committed to a balanced Budget, though back-bench voices have suggested spreading the burden. The Government has gone as far as Reform ever went in economy. If Reform is now prepared to go further, let it say where.” Turning less gently to Mr. Holland and his followers the Post declares that Labour has shown no capacity for any task save that of pulling to pieces the best constructive proposal of the Government in a purely destructive electioneering spirit. It is interesting to note that the oft-repeated suggestion of the last few days that Mr. Coates will launch a no-confidence motion on the Budget is not shared by the city Reform organ. Though not pretending to be in the full confidence of the Opposition, it is inclined to think the Government will not be ousted from office just yet. “In any event,” it says, “the opinion seems to be general that no good purpose can be served by forcing a dissolution of Parliament at this stage, as there is every reason to believe that the debate will run its full course of a fortnight or so. Several caucuses have been held by the Reform party, which has set out to present a combined front, but there are one or two members who are at present definitely of the opinion that the Government should be voted out of office at once.” The misting of the Government, of course, would entail some sort of compact between Reform and Labour, and the aftermath of such a proceeding would not be to the liking of the surviving. stalwarts of the Massey regime.