THE FINANCIAL DEBATE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 August 1931, Page 8

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE

TO OPEN TO-DAY the dehate on the Financial Statement (which is expected to open to-day) promises to be of much more than usual interest (comments the Christchurch “Times”). The proposals of the Government have been stated clearly, and the sole reason advanced in their support is that Cabinet considers them necessary lor the restoration of budgetary stability. It is not suggested that (lie means proposed to increase taxation will be popular—-they never arc—hut il is contended that they are essential unless the Dominion means to rest content with recurring deficits in the national accounts, and that, as the experience of our neighbours lias shown, is both costly ami dangerous. The country knows exactly where the Government stands, and it also knows that Labour will oppose practically anything and everything in the hope of defeating the Forbes Ministry. For that reason interest centres in tho course which the. followers of Mr Coates may adopt, and there appears to he no little division of opinion in the Reform ranks in that respect. They can, hy allying themselves with Labour, defeat the Government ami by so doing declare themselves opponents of a balanced Budget, or they may advance some other plan for ensuring that desirable, result, hut they will not he able to impose their views on Parliament without the. support of Labour, so that which ever way they go they face difficulties. The position of the parties in opposition lias been made more difficult hy the frankness of the Minister of Finance, The usual charges made from opposition benches must he abandoned, doubtless with some regret. The Budget, il is admitted even by those whose political views have not been in accordance with the policy of ilie United Government, does not contain a single item that could be described as “window grossing.” There is no hid for popularity and no suggestion that the proposals have been designed to influence votes, and the result is that oven the most hasty of the Reform critics will have to search a wide area in the hope of finding some point of vantage from which to launch an attack. And that is why interest in the. coming debate centres to such an extent on the line the Opposition may take. The Minister has stated definitely what ho proposes to do, unpleasant though the duty ' may lie, and those who oppose his policy will have to state as clearly their reasons for so doing. The country recognises that no effort must lie spared to keep the national finances stable, and. if we interpret public opinion aright, is not ill the mood to have these vital matters made the sport of party politics.