Balancing Budget An Imperative Duty

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6625, 11 August 1931, Page 8

Balancing Budget An Imperative Duty

EFFECT ON COUNTRY’S REPUTATION

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 8.

“I have some trepidation in coming to speak to you after the Budget which I recently delivered,” said the Prime Minister at the opening of the Christchurch winter show on Saturday evening. “When I claim that it is a historical Budget I really hope that it will prove to be so, especially so far as the State deficit is concerned, when we realise tho possibility of it reaching £7,000,000. Wc know there has never been such a deficit, and we do not want it again.

“With such a prospect before us, we should be wrong if we did not do everything we could to balance the Budget,” continued Mr. Forbes. “Everyone will agree, I believe, that it is the duty of the Dominion to meet its liabilities and to balance its Budget. Wo have a reputation of doing so in the past, and while I was in England I was struck by the fine opinion in which New Zealand was held. That reputation was built up on the fact that we have always fulfilled our obligations to the letter, and I am confident that the desire of tho people is to continue on those lines.

“In view of the expected deficit and the fact that tho taxpayer has been asked to find only £1,800,000, I think that it has been made as light as possible. This is not a party question, for it is our duty in every way to make every sacrifice to maintain the reputation of this country. The way to overcome difficulties is to go straight ahead and face them, and this is the shortest and quickest path to prosperity.”