The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1931. AN ECONOMY ELECTION.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2558, 20 August 1931, Page 4

The Waikato Independent THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1931. AN ECONOMY ELECTION.

If we were asked to suggest a slogan for the forthcoming election campaign we would, without hesitation, rec ’rani end, “Economy Before Taxation.’? With an extremely hard-up Dominion choosing its legislators in the neat future, electors are likely to prove hatd to convince by high-sounding promises... They will be looking for representatives who are likely to drastically curtail expenditure and relieve somewhat the staggering burden most of us arc carrying at the moment. Three years ago an alluring offer of millions of cheap money had a tremor, dous influence on the result of the election, A definite and practicable offer of tax relief would have the same effect this year in favour of the party which made it. It has been easy enough to criticise the present Government’s efforts to balance the national ledger, efforts from which we are all suffering, but criticism, to be effective, must have a workable alternative. In preparing its platform for the coming campaign the party that is going to win it w'ill have to put forward some very definite proposals', to case the present situation. Politicians have talked economy before, but mostly in vague general terms; and when elected on the strength of such talk they have seldom done much to support it. Such tactics will not succeed this time. The taxpayer this year will be paying to the uttermost penny of his ability. What he will demand of the candidates is an assurance of positive relief. In view of the tremendous responsibilities that must be undertaken by the next Government, all candidates submitting themselves to the electors should appreciate what the difficulties of the present are, and what those of the future are going to be. One does not need to be a prophet to predict that it will be an election in which platitudes and promises will carry no weight. The party with the true .constructive policy is the one that will win the most confidence.