The Daily News MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1930. READJUSTING IDEAS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 8

The Daily News MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1930. READJUSTING IDEAS.

Whatever may be thought of the policy enunciated by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., at Invercargill on Saturday night as a contribution to the effort that is needed to meet the difficulties confronting the Dominion this year, everyone will be ready to congratulate him on the evident sincerity of his desire to do his duty as a representative of the people. For the most part private members of Parliament are apt to content themselves with a pre-sessional speech or . two in their own electorates and the declaration of their views on suggested legislation when it comes before them in the House. If they are supporters of the party in power their views possess a definite colour, and if they are opponents their mission is to criticise, rather destructively than constructively. It is left to the party leaders to propound policy. It is possible, of course, to contemplate Mr. Polson in the role of a party leader —the leader of such a party as Sir Joseph Ward : led a few years ago, a party of one —and such a leader is happily circumstanced, for he is assured that no matter what planks his platform may contain none of them will be imperilled through any conflict of ideas and aspirations within the party. The reports that we have of Mr. Polson’s speech are, however, of a nature to indicate that it is not as a politician seeking applause but rather as a public man keen to perform a public service that he is addressing public meetings throughout the Dominion. It is evident, of course, that his purpose is to serve the interests of the Farmers’ Union, but a careful reading of his remarks shows that he seeks to cover a wider field than the president of that body would necessarily do. As a member of Parliament he has conceived it to be his duty to con-' sider the problems now awaiting solution in this country and to offer his opinions as to how best they may be solved. The result is u series of prcposals, which at least should provoke healthy discussion. Those who read the comparatively brief reports of the address given by the member for Stratford wi’l at once recognise its main theme. Every man who thinks seriously,, as Mr. Polson has been doing, about the future of this country must have been convinced that the need of the times is a readjustment of ideas for the purpose of meeting deflated values. This Dominion must expect to receive less for its produce than it has done for many years past, and therefore the cost of production must be reduced. Mr. Polson would set about the reduction process by cheapening the cost of living and working requirements, -and he sees means of doing this in a very substantial reduction of Customs charges. The result would be a fall in the cost of the things required every day in the home and the workshop and on the farm, and thus production would become cheaper. An increased demand for cheaper goods would promote expansion of industries, which would mean additional employment, thus .affording a per-, manent solution of a problem which is only being tinkered. with . under existing conditions. Finally wages would drop, since the worker would be able to maintain his standard of comfort at a lower cost than before. This idea of a cycle of cause and effect is sound enough. Of course the Gov-, ernment, though Mr. Polson has not emphasised this point, would be expected to reduce the cost of administration and thus save the Treasury something, but it would take time to readjust things, and meanwhile the shortage of £2,000,000 in Customs revenue would have to be made up by other means. Mr. Polson’s idea is to provide the money through additional luxury taxes. He would levy a tax of erne penny on every ticket of admission to every kind of amusement—games included, no doubt. For the present hotel license fee he would substitute a tax on liquor sales. Foreign—probably that means non-British —motor-ears, imported silks . and other merchandise would be heavily taxed, and the gross receipts of foreign film corporations would have to bear a levy. Finally Mr. Polson would add something to the totalisator tax if more money were needed. It looks sound policy to impose taxes which people need not pay unless they wish instead of duties on necessaries, but, of course, various interests would oppose an attempt to give effect to . Mr. Polson’s proposals. Everyone will admit, however, that he has put forward a constructive policy, which should open the way to discussion. This is a time for action, and Mr. Polson deserves the thanks of the community for his effort to encourage those who should be leaders to tackle a difficult tn~k.