CALL FOR STEADFASTNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21371, 21 December 1932, Page 10

CALL FOR STEADFASTNESS

Pointed and well-founded comment on the prevalence of alarmist rumours was made by Mr. Downie Stewart in a public address delivered in Dunedin. As he, said, they gain currency because the public is highly strung and nervy. This condition arises because the present generation has had practically no experience of real adversity, and has not adjusted itself to realise that abounding prosperity is not necessarily its unvarying birthright. How to prevent the dissemination of highly-coloured rumours of ruin impending is, as Mr. Stewart said, difficult to decide. A public man is likely to be accused of unjustified optimism or pessimism if he says anything; if he preserves silence he is liable to be charged with concealing unpleasant truths. As exemplifying what he had said, Mr. Stewart considered it necessary to repeat again that the adjournment _of Parliament over the Christmas season was for exactly the reason given, to afford the Government an opportunity of considering means of assisting primary industry now that exchange inflation has been removed from the realm of practical politics. That this should be so is perfectly reasonable. Times are difficult, and nobody should need to be told that the Budget problem is a thorny one. But there has been no development indicating a deterioration in public finance since the appearance of the half-year's accounts, which gave fair promise of fulfilment of the Budget plans. Therefore, the rumours of looming crisis in the affairs of the country do not pass the test of credibility. To this extent Mr. Stewart's observations can be supported. Yet it may be suggested that some of his colleagues—he himself has not been culpable—have not always been guiltless of putting an alarmist complexion on national affairs. Steadfastness is necessary so that the public morale may be kept high. Both Mr. Stewart's precept and example may be commended to his colleagues, even to some in the Cabinet itself, so that statements damaging to morale may not be given the colour of official inspiration.