A SOUND CORRECTIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1932, Page 6

A SOUND CORRECTIVE.

The address given last week by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., to the Inglewood branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union contained some sound advice. As president of the Farmers’ Union Mr. Polson' may be credited with a strong desire to view political affairs as they affect the settler’s outlook. Speaking from that viewpoint he urged loyal support of the Coalition Government and its policy. In his sketch, of what would happen if the Ministry’s proposals for economy and the balancing of the national accounts were not carried out Mr. Polson applied a welcome corrective to much of the “hot air” that has been released by opponents in the past few weeks. Everyone admits that to lower wages and pensions and to increase taxation is to court unpopularity, and is a policy that only necessity can justify. But, as Mr. Polson showed again, the alternative to this policy of economy and frugality is national bankruptcy, with misery that is difficult to envisage. The civil servants who feel the harshness of another cut in wages would find their lot even more deplorable if the Treasury were absolutely depleted of funds and the revenues of the State were in the hands of a receiving authority, whose first duty would be to the creditors oversea. It is a view of Dominion possibilities that should be placed alongside the fervid utterances of those who claim that by some political juggling the need for sacrifices can be avoided. Much has been heard of the petitions by businessmen, against any further reductions in wage.?. It was to Mr. Poison’s credit that he did not hesitate to show in public what political influences had been brought to bear in the preparation of those petitions. It is to be hoped that the farming community will see how far the effect of such efforts to avoid necessary economies must be discounted by the political conditions in which they have been produced. The vagaries of politicians, even of quondam supporters of the Coalition, will matter little provided the Government is assured of the loyalty of a majority of the electorate. The road back to prosperity is by no means yet opened. The Government is taking the only way of really. clearing away the obstacles that hinder financial recovery. Any other methods will, as Mr. Polson said, recoil most heavily upon the farming community.