WINDOW DRESSING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3818, 7 October 1936, Page 7

WINDOW DRESSING

The man who grows angry about election politics because of the reflection that this is a field in which false pretences for gain is not an indictible offence, may find a little consolation in the thought that there are generally extenuating circumstances in “trade custom.” “Win-dow-dressing” is a trade custom in party politics that is as old as Australia. It hag grown with each extension of the franchise and reached its peak period with the introduction of the adult franchise. Were the voters to look up the speeches of certain leaders and members at past elections it is safe to say that they would discount the utterances of these men by at least 75 per sent. The chief thought in preparing many a schedule of promises is not what will be practicable, but what will it be possible to “put across.” “No, no,” exclaimed a programme designer to his fellow-patriots: “Won’t do at all; they’d never swallow it. Most of them are fools, but not fools enough for that.” As these words indicate, there is a check in the estimate of public intelligence. The more reckless and impossible the promises, the greater the contempt of the politician for the understanding of those to whom he looks for votes. In one case brought under notice a few years ago a party leader began with a moving appeal for severe public economy, and went on to retail promises of expenditure that were found to involve an additional outlay of £50,000,000 a year. The inconsistency was pointed out to him. “That’s easy,” replied the public benefactor; “all we’ve got to say is that this is all wise expenditure and wise expenditure, as everybody knows, is the truest economy.” It is a long time since the public had a glance into a Pandora’s box of promises like that now being displayed throughout New South Wales by Mr Lang, the leader of one section of Labour, and the dread of another. As everybody knows, New South Wales is one of the highest taxed and most depressed parts of the Commonwealth. It is short in its accounts this year by four or five millions. _ It is so hard pressed for liquid assets that it may have difficulty very soon in paying the public servants or running all the trains necessary to transport the farmers’ wheat. With sound economic financing there will be a speedy recovery, and farmers, public servants and wage-earners will all have what is called in the vulgar tongue “a better spin.” But what hope is there if t’e next Government proceed to impoverish and discredit the State by a saturnalia of wanton waste, steadied only by the alarming increase of impecuniosity? Mr Lang’s promises cannot be fulfilled. If there be any farmer, for instance, who thinks that the empty State coffers can give him 7s 6d a bushel for his wheat he is strangely confiding. Rather may he expect devouring taxes on his land and orders from the Sydney Trades Hall that will increase all his expenses. The State Labour programme is supported enthusiastically by Mr Garden and the “ reds,” and it is worthy of its backers.