Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] SATURDAY, 21st JANUARY, 1933. FREE STATE POLITICS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 January 1933, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] SATURDAY, 21st JANUARY, 1933. FREE STATE POLITICS.

The greatest Irish industry was that of cattle raising for dairying and other markets. It is now nearly defunct as a result of the tariff war with Britain. The de Valera Government, resolved upon its “new economic policy” on Soviet lines, is credited with rejoicing at what it regarded as this help from Britain in assisting the revolutionary design. Guinness’s, Gallaher’s, Jacobs’s great factories, important factors in the Irish export trade, were under the same crazy scheme to be taxed out. of existence, for de Valera proclaimed that he did not want the export trade. He wanted no exchange trade at all, because that makes a link with Britain and the Empire. The Labour party, upon which de Valera depended for his constitutional existence, became alarmed in recent months, but the Government cut the ground from under Labour’s feet by increasing and extending old age and other pensions, appropriating revenue for free milk distribution and unemployment “works,” and the promise of borrowing more money (whence not stated) to maintain such distributions of largesse when the revenues should fail. As under Langism, the inevitable day arrived when there was not enough money to pay Public Service salaries, despite increases in taxation levies, and when Government salaries and wages had to be cut the Labour group rebelled. Toe farmers, whose anxieties were allayed with the assurance that they need “pay England no more”— that is to say, pay their farm mortgage creditors no more—are also not paying local rates. Why, under this regime, pay anybody any dues, even wages? When that policy is driven far enough it begins to hurt even repudiators. Even the worm will turn at last, and after a few days of crisis the Labour group made its decision.

The Dail is dissolved, and the country will now by vote decide for de Valera or against him.