LABOUR’S CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 6

LABOUR’S CRISIS

Sir Your correspondent “ Matilda,” who is never very particular about facts, states that in 1938 Mr Nash had almost landed the country in bankruptcy. It might be well to remind him that it was in November, 1938, that the people, so well satisfied with the way the affairs of the country had been managed, returned the Government, with a bigger majority. The following year the Tory Government in England, incensed beyond measure that New Zealand had a 6ain returned a Labour Government, decided that we must be severely punished, and meat quotas were introduced. The war breaking out prevented this inhuman and unnecessary act from developing. “ Matilda ” In his usual misleading way recites a number of losses incurred in several State departments, and leaves it at that. If a farmer or a business man published only the losses he had made on several lines throughout the year, would that be a satisfactory statement of his financial position? Certainly not, but •• Matilda ” seems to think that it is all that is required. Perhaps he will tell us how it is, that after all his supposed mismanagement, bungling and hash Mr Nash produces every year a surplus that is the envy of his opponents, and is counted not in thousands but in millions of pounds. Is ’’ Matilda ” aware that the Tory Nationalist predecessors in office could not even balance their budget, without unbalancing the budget of every private citizen? Because of their borrow, boom and burst policy the country was in such a hopeless mess. Sir Otto Niemever was sent from England to advise them what they must do. To pay the interest on the national debt, pensions and wages were cut the social services slashed. All these indignities were suffered because the leaders through lack of a humanitarian outlook thought they could starve their way back to prosperity. Is this why “ Matilda ” so admires the Nationalist Party. I am, etc., Commonsense