WHY BAVIN FELL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17407, 4 November 1930, Page 5

WHY BAVIN FELL

FIGHT AGAINST ODDS REVENGEFUL ELECTORS Air. Bavin, says the Age. fought against heavy odds. For months under the impulsion of duty and in pursuance of what he believes to be the only wise and feasible policy., he has been alienating certain block votes and much possible political support That was a risk lie bad to take, and to his lasting credit lie took it with out counting the cost. Immediately after the fmineial conference pledge, was signed Air. Bavin was foremost in arranging to have tin pledge redeemed. The steps lie honestly felt he had to take did not lead to popularity. lie, sought to carryout the financial agreement along the lines which Sir Olto Niorneycr, because he had been consulted, had indicated. The agreement involved reductions in wages, increase in working liburs, and industrial ml'an tacos abolished or suspended. In all administrative directions drastic economies had to be ell'ected, public servants and railway workers had their salaries reduced by S-t per cent. Meanwhile the numbers of unemployed rose from To,(Hill to nearly 1 (HI mil). Hunger and other forms of distress were accentuated by causes quite beyond the range of human control. But, for these, ns well as for the others Air. Bavin and his Government were ignorantly held chargeable. It was to a great mass of electors in political revengeful mood the Bavin Ministry made appeal. It Was probably not to he expected that the Ministry would get an mi prejudiced hearing anil a fair deal. For months the Bavin Government Ims been moving towards what lias proved to be a political guillotine. On Saturday the knife fell. The ('lectors of New South Vales should not look with too swift satisfaction on theii work. The j:; iginem of ('very intelligent, patriotic Austra linn is likely to be that New South Wales has made a grave mistake.