Appeal To Be Candid

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 7

Appeal To Be Candid

Prime Minister and Money System Change LABOUR CAMOUFLAGE “How can the people of New Zealand maintain any confidence in the Government when, day after day, the Primo Alinister, or some of his colleagues, make statements obviously aimed to confuse the public minds. It is camouflage for aimless drifting and culpable negligence in their stewardship on behalf of all sections of the people?” stated Hon. Adam Hamilton, leader of tho National Party, when speaking in Pulmcrston North last night concerning Air. {Savage’s remarks on Saturday last about tho coming change in tho money system. “No explanation can excuse ihe Labour Government for confusing the electors by misrepresentation of the financial position of the Dominion during tho year prior to the election 3d November last. To retain office the Government practised tactics of deception,” Air. Hamilton continue i. “Whether Air. {Savage finds words in tho language of his ‘propaganda of confusion’ to further bewilder audiences into believing that he is a money magician matters little in the ultimate. The day when the audience realises that the whole performance, like that of* the magician of the stage, is fundamentally a deception is approaching inorb rapidly than Air. Savage’s selfsatisfaction would suggest, and the experience will bo sufficiently cruel to make people regret having paid high prices to ‘see the show.’

“Now we have tho Prime Alinister repeating the shibboleth of his class Government—‘the money system must be changed.’ That has been the stock-in-trade statement in the patter accompanying Labour ‘magic,’ but it means no more to-day than when it was first uttered as part of the ‘confusion plan.’ It is not the money system that *s wrong, but tho Government’s handling of it. In plain fact, the Government has lived beyond its income and, like any ordinary person, has to call a half. Penalties must bo paid.

“The Government itself commenced the tightening of the belts of the people before Christmas and more and more will receive tho order to do so before long. This is Labour justice. If statements could bo believed, this is all part of a plan, but large sections of tho community already know, to their sorrow and expense, that there was no plun—only desperate expedient. Labour built a nation for three years and the structure became so top-heavy that it threatened to fall about its ears. What did it do? It started by making sections of the public—sections that jt hopes are in tho minority of voting strength—pay tho first penalties of adjustment. “But Mr. Savage is apparently even harder pressed. He announces that tho money system is to bo changed. This is tho same Mr. Savage who stated in the House in 1935 in reply to one of our Ministers: ‘Tho Minister will tell the people presently that Labour wants to manage tho banking system, but wo are not mad enough for anything like that.’

“Thousands and thousands of people who have savings or money invested in New Zealand have tho right to demaud an explanation of this threat. If it is not part of ‘confusion propaganda’ then perhaps Air. Savage will perform his duty to the country and tell the electors of tho details of his proposed change. Is ho talking, to capture the phrase of ono of his colleagues, ‘through tho top of his head?’ “If Mr. Savage does not answer this question ho must be convicted of hypocritical talk. Air. Savage has given other examples of his aptitude for generalities. He went as far as to tell Great Britain that she should learn that she must invest iu tho British Dominions. Why, beforo Air. Savage ever came to New Zealand that investment provided tho foundations on which, with tho hard work of tho pioneers, Now Zealand was built. it should not have been difficult lor Air. Savago to find that out, or to find our, too, that from tho industry and thrift of many generations, supported by the coulidcueu given by tho knowledge that Great Britain is the Dominion’s greatest friend, assets wero created. Thoso assets arc now being jeopardised by Labour’s extravagance and its placing of unproductive work at a premium. Why not ccuse to bo hypocritical an 1 tell tho people that last year alone Great Britain took £22,000,000 worth of goods more from us than wo did fro-u her. But perhaps Air. Savage still wishes to ‘tell Great Britain.’

“lam drawing attention particularly to Labour’s insincerity iu tho statements of its leaders. There is ample evidence of misstatement and evasion of questions as to vital issues. Now Labour, through Mr. Savhge, aunouuces in generalities and innuendoes tho changing of the money system! “Lack of concrete facts and essential details, such as is evidenced in this latest statement again, merely adds to the lack of confidence growing in tho community, in this case the confusion must be among that section with which the Government must seek co-operation in its attempt to re-build a nation exhausted by three years of ‘boom and bust’ administration. When that section is told by responsible Government members that it is outlawed nod that tho whole financial structure must be changed, then the Labour Government

is achieving a disastrous result for which it must ultimately answer. “Air. Savage always quotes an extreme—the exploiter—to make a case for himself, but why does ho not understand that the exploiter can be dealt with without wrecking a whole system. Mr, Savage cannot have the confidence of one person in the Dominion who liar savings or investments until he is candid about tho details of his money system plans. AJr. Savage says that he will not apologise to the Reserve Bank or to anyouo else. 'Whether anyone has already suggested that Mr. Bavage owes an apology to the people because of his intended manipulation of the money system is by tho way, but ho must at onco bo candid in his explanation of that manipulation.”