FEBRUARY AND JUNE

Southland Times, Issue 18973, 21 June 1923, Page 5

FEBRUARY AND JUNE

A WINTER CRITIC MR WILFORD’S MILDER TONE NO LABOUR THUNDERBOLT. (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, June 20. The casual observer of current political affairs when he reads his paper this morning and calls up from his memory the impressions he gained from the discussions that took place in February will probably coma to the conclusion that Mr Wilford loves Mr Massey less in February than he does in June. He might, even if he is a closer student of political economy, betake himself to the cosy reading room of the Municipal Library and endeavour to gauge ths effect that winter has on the movers of no-confidence motions. His results, if presented in paper to the meteorological section of the technological society, might initiate an interesting discussion of practical help to those who seek an outlet for political ambition. Under the soothing warmth of February sunshine, Mr Wilford paid the Government the compliment of congratulating them and the country on its happy rejuvenation after the long night of slump and trade depression that turned the balance of our overseas trade from a healthy credit to a debit that shook the faith of the most optimistic, but his warmth ended there. He condemned the Government and all its works and pomps to obloquy ths enormity \of its sins and the hatred he bore for them were pictured in the abhorrence be expressed for methods of Government that failed to take cognisance of ths signs of the times to the extent of introducing proportional representation while the ten thousand homes the Government erected during the year blinked merrily in the sunshine, their occupants enjoying a holiday, may be on the thousand sandy beaches of the New Zealand coast. He eloquently disputed their existence because the Government had not followed out the “ten pounds down” system of building homes for workers when these homes were built. Their prospective tenants or owners should be allowed to choose the company they would insure them in. When his “ten pounds down” men asked the Government to put a roof over the missus and kids they were told to go to the Advances to Settlers Department. Not only was the Government guilty of gross extravagance, but, though they were getting payments on their housing scheme of £lOOO a week, they were not putting up houses with this money. The railway finances were wrongly presented and the railways were in a bad way generally. Farmers were starved for loans, taxation was devised and administered to help the wealthy at the expense of the worker. Not twelve men in Lambton Quay knew the names of the Ministry.

The warm sunshine of February gives way to the biting winds of June. When the young man’s fancy lightly turns to jazz there is a change too in Mr Wilford. Winter has so stilled his criticism that he has no taunt for the Government for their neglect of his favourite policies in those few short months. Despite the needs of two by-elections, the Government has found time to put some dainty dishes before Mr Wilford. They are prepared to let bygones be bygones and not to remember too unkindly that his party only built 28 houses for the people in one year, but they have set the seal on all the sufferings of ths homeless and offer 95 per cent, of their security in the way of a cash advance to build homes. Taxation is coming down to the extent of two millions, the railways are across the trestle bridge and can see the pleasant fields of prosperity beyond. The country is round the corner. Soldiers’ pensions, for which Mr Wilford pleaded so eloquently yesterday, are already to be increased. There is only one fly in the ointment: the British Empire calls for Mr Massey’s mature knowledge and wide experience. To-day is June 21, the shortest day in the year, and Reform has come through two ordeals in a night. Summer is on the horizon. Mr Wilford retiree to his quarters with less blood dripping from h|i polished sword. The debate goes on.