THE NATIONAL AWAKENING.
I would, therefore, prefer to describe the conspicuous feature of the year so far as domestic affairs are concerned as the recognition at the 'eleventh hour by all political parties of the failure of successive Governments and of the nation to face the facts of the post-War situation. When in-the finaneini co,',Limns of the Spectator and other
Nib
journals it has been pointed out for the last ,ten years that the observance of financial and economic pincip]e, was - being persistently subordinated, to . political expediency, and that the extravagance in unproductive National Expenditure, the burden of taxation, the high costs of production and the Socialist legislation ministering to those high costs were largely responsible for the prolonged industrial depression, those responsible for the warnings lived either dubbed as Jeremiahs or as being afflicted- by political bias, To-day, however, we have most of the leading statesmen of all parties uniting in proclaiming these truths and declaring that the only way back to prosperity is along the difficult path of rigid economy and hard work. The lesson was driven home by the stern necessities of the crisis last August, and for a time, at least, the seriousness of the position has stilled party clamour and produced a National Government pledged to reforms and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
Previous page
