Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MARCH 29. 1938 A VOTE FOR SOUND GOVERNMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 March 1938, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MARCH 29. 1938 A VOTE FOR SOUND GOVERNMENT

RESULTS of the New South Wales election demonstrate thal the electors of that State have not forgotten their experience} under the Lang Labour repudia tion administration. A distinctl} decisive vote has declared ir favour of sane, progressive gov

ernment as opposed to Socialistic experimental administration with excessive taxation and correspondingly excessive expenditure. It is not too much to say that the experience of New Zealand in its march along the road to the completely Socialistic State has to some extent influenced the decision of New South Wales to continue to entrust the control of affairs to Mr B. S. B. Stevens and his Government. In his election speeches, Mr Stevens made no alluring promises such as we had in 1935 on this side of the Tasman many of them not yet fulfilled and others carried out in part for the benefit of a section of the community by imposing a heavy burden on the whole community including that section it was desired to benefit. Mr Stevens did not approach the election in a l spirit of boastfulness. He gave ! the main credit for the State s I economic recovery to the courage and enterprise of a wonderful icommunity,” but, as he said, I “without good government that courage and enterprise would j have been in vain.” And he added, truly enough: “An incompetent and reckless government can do more harm in a few months than can be repaired in years. Mr Stevens was able to point to improvements reflected in statistics regarding employment, increased earnings, and improved social services, and to taxation remissions which had been of material help in the recovery. He also spoke in general terms of plans for the future. These included further tax reductions and still more attention to social welfare and necessary public works—“regardless of party, class or creed.” It will be noted that Mr J. T. Lang generally regarded as the greatest asset of the opposing forces was re-elected, as was the “rebel” Labour leader, Mr R. J. Heffron. Mr Lang may be re-elected leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, but it is predicted that the effort to remove him from the leadership will continue with even greater vigour than ever. The “Labour Daily,” which Mr Lang once controlled, but which is now directed by his rivals in j the Labour movement, headed the announcement of the election:

“Lang again leads Labour to Defeat” a clear indication of continued bitterness to come. The New South Wales election is not without special interest to New Zealand which will have momentous issues to face before the end of the current year. As a matter of fact, the issues may be narrowed down to one: Private enterprise and freedom of the individual or State Socialism, restriction, and regimentation of industry. One more point stands out in the result of the election in the sister State: A feature was the rejection of “Independent” candidates. There was a record number of 32 candidates described as “Independents.” Only one was successful. There is a clearcut issue facing New Zealand and it is to be hoped it will not be confused by vote-splitting as on the last occasion, when a Government was returned to office with an overwhelming majority in membership, but on a minority vote of the whole of the electors.