CONSERVING THE FINANCES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1930, Page 12

CONSERVING THE FINANCES

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT. NATIONAL EFFORT REQUIRED. The Prime Minister has made a plain, straightforward statement . showing every elector how necessary it is for a national effort to be made to put the Dominion on a sound financial. basis. Hero is a case where our politicians should place the country’s interests before party advantage, and looking at the Parliament it is apparent to everyone that there are practical men in' both the United and Reform parties who must see and. know the urgent necessity for a national effoit to meet this emergency. Any person - who studies public expenditure can see where improvements and economics can bo made, but if our political history is also studied it will bo seen how hard it is for any party to effect economies without antagonising this or that section of the electors. Even where Governments in the past have been backed 'by a large majority they have suffered when trying to curb expenditure. The Prime Minister has shown how necessary this is at the present time, and warns the country that it is his intention to try and carry it out, but Ire can only go as far. as a minority party is .allowed to go by its opponents. Wo have in polities to-day three parties. Of these United and Reforpr

see quite plainly that extra taxation will handicap industry very gravely. They both realise the need for economy, while the Socialist Labour Party s platform if put into practice must increase expenditure enormously. Thus this party is not likely to assist the Government in its endeavour. Under these circumstances it would appear to be in the best interests of the Dominion for United and Reform to get together and jointly that the best men in Parliament should link into one strong party on general principles. There does not appear to be any inclination to move in that direction, but surely this could be done to meet- such a national emergency as has 'been outlined by the -Prime Minister. Such co-operation may need the adjustment of minor differences, it may call for some personal sacrifice by members, but when the welfare of the country is in question minor differences and personal ambition should not count. The present division of sound politics into two camps must come to an end sooner' or later, and it would bo better that it should end by way of reasoned thought than by a political I upheaval. —Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League.