The Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1938. Politics and Prosperity

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 6

The Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1938. Politics and Prosperity

Certain happenings during the past week or so have thrown into rather strong relief the ways of politicians when elections are in sight. A form of propaganda—honoured only by its age—is at present being indulged in by the supporters of the Labour Party, and the only excuse for it appeal’s to be that supporters of past Governments have resorted to the same tactics. A rather amusing pamphlet was recently delivered through the post to every householder in the Dominion calling attention in large type and not very artistic illustrations to the virtues of Labour rule and the sins of the previous Government. AIL the hardships of the greatest economic blizzard that had struck the world for a century were claimed to bo directly due to the Coates-Forbes Administration, and all the prosperity of the great trade revival which followed the depression are declared to be due to the wisdom, foresight and enterprise of the halfdozen gentlemen who comprise the Cabinet of New Zealand’s lirst Labour Government. On Saturday evening the member for Palmerston North followed the example of the pamphleteers, loosing a flood of figures designed to leave the impression that slumps are tile particular product of the opponents of Labour and prosperity is the monopoly of his party. Such propaganda will not impress those electors who think things out for themselves, but it does, no doubt, carry weight in some quarters. There is, however, one objection to this form of electioneering. It cuts both ways. If the Labour Party is responsible for ail the prosperity which New Zealand has happened to enjoy during its term of office, which party in New South Wales has been responsible for the wave of prosperity that has swept over that State in common with the rest of Australia? Apparently the electors across the Tasman arc quite satisfied With the very strong anti-Labour Government which has been in office during both the slump and boom years, for they gave Mr. Stevens a decisive mandate at the elections held on Saturday. The Labour Party under Mr. Lang has again been told very definitely that it is not wanted and that the people are quite willing to leave the conduct of State affairs in the hands of a Government which is strongly opposed to the Socialistic doctrines which Mr. Lang and his imitators in New Zealand are so anxious to thrust upon the people. Mr. Stevens, in his election campaign, did not claim that id; Administration brought about the prosperity any more than his opponents claimed that he was responsible for slump conditions when they had to be endured a few years ago. But he did claim that his prudent administration has laid a solid foundation for a continuance of the happy conditions now existing, and that the finances of New South Wales are in a sound condition. He did not embark on an orgy of expenditure nor did his policy skyrocket the cost of living to the alarming extent that has occurred in this Dominion. Consequently the electors have sent him back to office with a definite mandate to continue his good work. The truth of the matter is that governments have little to do with economic changes, which are controlled by forces far out of the reach of their impotent fingers. They can mitigate the hardships of depression periods just as they can by reckless expcrimentalism nullify the good effects of prosperous years. Mr. Stevens in New South Wales and Mr. Savage in New Zealand were both very lucky in that prosperity synchronised with their period of office. The issue for the electors in both States is not who made the prosperity, but were its benefits wisely used in the interests of all the people. New South Walcp has given its answer. New Zealand’s-Ms 'yet to come. "