The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY, 0CTOBER 13, 1937. MR. SAVAGE’S CHALLENGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 13 October 1937, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY, 0CTOBER 13, 1937. MR. SAVAGE’S CHALLENGE

Mli. SAVAGE is naive. He challenges Mr. Hamilton to a general election, knowing full well that Mr. Hamilton dare not accept because to do so would throw upon himself the onus of putting the country to the expense of fighting a general election. Mr. Savage says that if money is leaving the country the sooner a general election is held the better. Well, money is leaving this Dominion, and quickly, too. Mr. Savage and Mr. Nash may deny the obvious as long as they like, but the experience of sending money out of New, Zealand is common to investors nowadays. But what is of even greater moment is that at a time when conditions in New Zealand should be most attractive to overseas investors, there is no inflow of capital, consequently there is a continuance of unemployment, which the Government cannot cure.

It would certainly be to the advantage of Mr. Savage to hold a general election now, because the stimulating effect of his Government’s policy has not yet worn off, and the reactions which must follow his conduct have not yet made their - presence felt. It is still “the night before” and it is not yet “the morning after.” If Mr. Savage could secure a return to office before the inevitable “headache” develops, he will be fortunate indeed. Time, however, runs against him, and he knows it. He is faced with the problem of meeting adversity with the inflationists already at his heels. He does not know how' he will manage when adversity overtakes the Dominion through a fall in the price of export commodities. He realises that his luck cannot last forever, and when his luck turns what is he going to say to Mr. Langstone, who has revealed the split in the Cabinet on the Government’s financial policy?

Finally, it should be remembered that Mr. Savage is the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the responsibility rests upon his shoulders as to whether a general election shall be held before the statutory period has expired. He is trying, by his challenge to Mr. Hamilton, to shift the responsibility which is his alone, in order to secure either an empty debating victory over his opponent or, alternatively, to snatch a decision from the public before the tide of his popularity has ebbed too -far.