LABOUR VIEW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 9

LABOUR VIEW

MR'HOLLAND'S CRITICISM

WAIMATE, This Day. Reference to the Prime Minister's statement of the financial position was made by Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, at a meeting here last night. The meeting was largely attended. Mr Holland said that he had.npfc had time to go fully into details, but in view of the extremely gloomy nature of that pronouncement, which, was _so markedly in contrast with the glowing promises of a little more than a year ago, he was not sure that the Prime "Minister had not done the Dominion the greater disservice imaginable. Some time back the Hon. W. A.'Veitch was found declaring that confidence in the economic stability of the Dominion might be shaken if the figures relating to unemployment were permitted to bo published, but if anything were wanted to weaken the confidence of: our # creditors it had certainly been supplied by the Leader of the Government. .It seemed almost astounding that within two njonths of having proclaimed a surplus of and with only one complete month's figures on which to base "his calculations, the Prime Minister should precipitately announce that a deficit of three millions would be achieved during the* present financial year. To say the least it would set inquiries going as to how the surplus of 31st March rcas built up.

After criticising Mr Forbes' suggested economies he declared that the policy of the Labour Party would bo "hands off education." Mr Holland said that Mr Forbes need not be surprised if his Government's attitude was taken for a renunciation of Sir Joseph Ward's policy, and his statement regarded as a smoke screen to fcover Mie carefully planned evacuation of the position taken c'p by the United Party in 1928.