The Daily News FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1934. AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1934, Page 6

The Daily News

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1934. AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH, Currie Street. STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA. High Street.

Addressing a meeting of commercial men in Wellington last week the Prime Minister complained that business men were too inclined to dwell upon what they considered the errors or bad policy of the Government and to ignore the useful work done in the midst of very trying conditions. Had Mr. Forbes been able to make the announcement given by his colleague the Minister of Finance on Wednesday in regard to the national finances, he might have felt his appeal for support had solid backing. To have reduced an anticipated deficit of nearly £3,000,000 to one of £700,000 seems an excellent reply to charges of mismanagement or of careless administration. Yet in regard to the Dominion’s finances there is an uncertainty that causes doubt and chills any enthusiasm for the efforts of the Ministry. Commercial men want to know the whole of the facts before they can feel as assured as is the Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, that the Dominion is “definitely on the upgrade.” They see taxation as • high as ever, they know imports continue to fall, and they have serious misgivings in regard to commitments of the State in regard to the absorption of London credits." Unless the figures quoted by Mr. Coates include provision for all the Dominion’s liability under the Banks Indemnity Act it is evident that they must be discounted by whatever portion of that liability has been unprovided for, <and no postponement of the day of reckoning will remove the fact that it will arrive in due course. To say this is not to disparage any efforts the Government has made to bring about financial recovery. But the Prime Minister overlooked the fact that the Ministry’s most important change in its financial policy was taken without any intimation of its intention to the commercial community, in defiance of high authorities, and that its effect upon the country’s primary industries has not been an unmixed blessing. Then in regard to administration, the Government stated last year that the limit of economy had been reached in regard to departmental expenditure. Yet on Wednesday Mr. Coates announced that £200,000 had been saved in this respect, and, while the information is gratifying to all taxpayers, it will confirm the opinion of many commercial men that if different methods were applied the economies in administration could be far greater without encroaching unduly upon efficiency. Everyone admits the Coalition Ministry took office at a time when conditions were particularly difficult, and many of the most serious problems were beyond the control of the Dominion. With little experience to guide it, and the additional obstacles to united policy that seem inseparable from any coalition, the Ministry might have done considerably less than it has. Mr. Forbes could claim with some justification that extravagance had been checked, sacrifices demanded from all sections of the community as justly as could be devised, and the most strenuous efforts made to grapple with the problem of unemployment. His colleague the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, will have, for instance, reduced the expenses of that department by £1,500,000 without impairing the national system of education. That is an achievement for which he has received little credit, though a good deal of criticism once offered has now disappeared. Doubtless there have been other administrative efforts that would have received the support of the community if it had been told by the Government why they were essential and how they would affect the general public. The lack of support of which Mr. Forbes complained is largely due to the Government’s lack of candour with the public. In Britain and America leading statesmen have not hesitated to tell the public the whole truth in regard to domestic affairs. They have told of the difficulties which lie ahead, of the way they are to be tackled, and the response of the community has been spontaneous to a degree that has almost surprised the statesmen who hoped for support. Here the Ministry appears content to let its critics hold the floor. To rely upon the electorate’s gratitude is to ignore the teaching of history. What it needs is evidence, and repeated evidence, of good work performed, testimony moreover that is willingly afforded by those responsible for the work for which they desire ap-

proval. If Mr. Forbes and his colleagues would /follow the new lead of statesmen in older lands they might find that the support for which he pleaded would be theirs in ungrudging measure.