The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1938. Mr Nashs Optimism

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1938. Mr Nashs Optimism

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THE Financial Debate was brought to an end last night with another capable survey of the field of public finance by the responsible Minister, the Hon. "Walter Nash. Of the debate as a whole, it may be said that, although 62 speakers participated, few made any contributions of real value or importance. It was soon obvious, quite early in the debate, that most members regarded it as just an opportunity for delivering speeches with an electioneering flavour. The Budget debate, by custom, allows members considerable freedom, and.they arc not necessarily restricted to an analytical discussion of the country’s balance-sheet. An appreciation of this point was soon evident. It is very doubtful, however, if so many speeches would have been made had proceedings not been broadcast. Before microphones made their appearance in the chamber, it was said of members who talked merely for the sake of talking that they were “speaking to Hansard.” Now, however, they rejoice in the opportunity of talking to the country as a whole, or to those of its citizens who have the patience to listen to them. Tims we find that one result of the broadcasting of Parliament is the risk that debates may be unduly prolonged in order _ that members may talk “over the air.” Since Parliament is said to cost £1 a minute to run, it is quite a costly little privilege. Fortunately, there were occasional speeches in the Budget debate which raised it from its general level of mediocrity. Those of Mr. Nash warranted the closest attention by every thoughtful citizen, and, whether or not there is a disagreement with his fiscal policy, there can be no disputing his able presentation of his case. Another of the best speeches during the debate was that of Mr. C. A. "Wilkinson, but on the Opposition side no one levelled a more telling and more informed criticism of the Government than the Bt. Hon. J. G. Coates. ,It is a high compliment to Mr Coates that last night Mr. Nash devoted a great deal of his time to answering the arguments propounded by the Member for Kaipara. But, in spite of bis grasp of his subject, the general picture drawn by Mr. Nash was not completely convincing. Asked how much better off the country is, he said, “better off because it has a better Government.” That, of course, is purely a matter of opinion, and Mr. Nash is of the same opinion as mothers at a baby show—everyone naturally thinks her own is the best. He also points to a general appearance of prosperity in the country, and claims that the people generally are better off than they were in 1935. In that year, of course, the country was just recovering from an acute depression caused by the decline in overseas prices. Mr. Nash admits that the Government cannot control or influence these prices, but claims credit for prosperity when they go up, though he and his colleagues blame their predecessors for the economic stringency for which the collapse of the overseas market was alone responsible. In any case, there are many people in this country today who are not as well off now as they were in 1935. Some have even been forced out of business altogether by the Socialistic measures of the Government.

When all is said and done, the keynote of Mr. Nash’s Budget is “Spend, spend, spend,” and it can only keep on spending while the public can meet its taxation demands. If the national income falls, then the test null come. Mr Nash’s cheerful view is that it cannot fall. But he admits in almost the same breath that the incomes of sheepfarmers have fallen in the past year. The Government could not prevent that, any more than Canute could stop the incoming tide. Yet its whole policy is founded on a serene confidence that nothing can ever go wrong.