The Waikato Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1935. THE WORK AHEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19758, 13 December 1935, Page 6

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1935. THE WORK AHEAD

The Minister of Finance, addressing the heads ofit he '& u Departments in Wellington, said that he was going to keep Ins t on the ground, but would place his ideals as lugli possible colleagues have made statements regarding the work that t > to do, all of them bearing evidence of sound judgment a ‘ te Lion of many factors involved. It would not be di Qualified how the hopes entertained, and the promises made, had to be q when the practical difficulties, from the departmental P omt ' J were taken into consideration. For instance, Mr Savage swd that the five-year-old children would be admitted to the public sc the new year, but his Minister of Education has since tadtopmn out the difficulties in the way, including the provision of teachers. That, Mr Fraser said, was a problem that would have t be solved before the children were re-admitted, and there weie otb difficulties that must first be overcome.

But no Minister will have so many or as important problems to solve, before the Government’s policy can be implemen e ,» Mr Nash. The, most far-reaching changes in policy neaily g on matters of'finance, and it would be interesting if he wouldl adopt the course of the other members of Cabinet and outline, m S terms, the immediate objectives and the course it is P ropose . take, but that is hardly likely. In no sphere of Government activity would mistakes be more costly, so that the expressed intention of the Minister to keep his feet on the ground is certainly re-assur g. His negotiations cannot be hurried and it would he surprising i , i the event of Parliament assembling in February, the financial pioposals of the Government were ready for consideration.

There will, of course, be pressure brought to bear by enthusiasts for immediate action to establish a new order, but the duty imposed on Mr Nash, as on the other members of the Ministry, is to intro uce any alterations in such a way that they will not lnterrup . ordinary course of national activities. As one of the leading Fabians said, when discussing the establishment of . Socialism at Home. “ There is practically no part in the financial machinery ot the country which would not be concerned in the action taken.

The same authority really outlined the position in which the Government of the Dominion is placed. “It will be expected no o smash and rebuild, but to reorganise, and that without serious y upsetting the running of the machine. And any mistakes, any o - vfous economic set-back, any considerable human suffering which may be caused—however difficult to avoid—will not fail to impiess our susceptible electorate.” The. Minister of Finance is well aware of this danger, and for that reason alone is not likely to act precipitately. The announcements made by his colleagues have been interesting, but the Dominion must await the decisions of the Minister of Finance, and it would not be surprising if, because of their nature, action and announcement were combined.