The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1909. THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 612, 15 September 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1909. THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

There aro few people prepaied today todofond the action of tho'Prime Minister in, closing down Parliament, and by ; so doing practically insisting ■ that;, tho ■ ,administration : of tho country's affairs should be at a standstill for a period of four months. AYo hold strong views concorning the administrative methods of Sib Joseph' Waed, we regard his reckless extravagance and his lack of political principles as a grave menace to the future well-being of the country, but wo'!hare' never failed to recogniso that with all his weaknesses he is the dominant power in what must be gonerally regarded as the weakest Cabinet New Zealand ' has suffered with for more years than it is easy to recall. Therofore, when Sib JofiEffl wMp£ci bis narty, lato'line and,.

forced them to agree to hanging up the affairs of the country to suit his convenience, we ..fully anticipated that his colleagues would be instructed to "mark timo" until his return. The very fact that he appointed the Hon. J. Carroll as Acting-Prime Minister was sufficient warranty that a policy of "Taihoa" would bo pursued. Will anyone to-day pretend to say that this anticipation has riot been realised 1 The past four months have been practically a period of stagnation. Wo havo had the spectaelo of a Minister going about the country apparently paving the way for additional taxation; wo have had Ministers fratcr'nising with the members of a gambling institution and upholding tho bookmakers at the expense of logic and common sonse; but in matters of vital concern we have had in practically all- respects save j ono a policy of "marking time 1 ' until the return of the Prime Minister. , The ono exception was the matter of assisting the unemployed. Even Ministers with .a mandate from thoir chief to do nothing could not ignore the necessity for assisting the unfortunate workless., And yet tho country was never in greator need 1 of stimulus from the Government. There was never a time:during the past twenty years when Ministers could have with more advantage shown activity in their various Departments. But there has been nothing but talk—talk and "Taihoa." ; Ministers possibly are not altogether to blamo for tho policy,pursued. That is to say, in view of their dependence on their chief, they are perhaps not to blame ', for obeying his orders. They have had the example of Me. Hoa.o before them, and the perquisites of office are sweet. Sie Joseph Wabd. no doubt instructed them as to the policy to.be pursued in his absence, and .they 'have 'followed instructions with a praiseworthy conscientiousness which should win them, his approval on his return." But in-' the meantime things have been standing still. If the heads of the public Departments could speak freely: there', would probably be some interesting disclosures as to the extent to which matters, have been hung up pending Sir- Joseph Ward's return. It is not our purpose, however, to deal on the present occasion with that,aspect of the position. Our concern is with the general'situation.' .'■.'•'. \ : In a recent issue we directed , attention to certain signs which indicated that the commercial depression which has been overshadowing tho country is passing away. We also' urged that.the passing of that depression coufd, be accelerated by a restoration of confidence amongst investors and capitalists. This • latter event we regard as tho great need of the hour. It is not that the country has gone back to any appreciable extent; it is not that piir. public debt has grown to very large proportions; it is not that the rato .of taxation per head is excessively' high. Our debt is high and our taxation is excessive,.but against these things must be placed the great undeveloped resources of' the country. ,We do not for one moment defend the rapid piling up. of our debt, 'or'tho waste and extravagance which havo led to the excessive rate of taxation per hoad. Our point is ! that 'despite'' these 'things "we would still retain the confidence of the outside -investor.; and jtho local capitalist' but for the over-presont suspicion regarding future may bring.fortfc -There: is;a : fecling. that the GoVorhmpnt ha? fresh'burdens to place on capital;'there is a suspicion that at tho! first sign of 'recovery and a, return to '' good times tiipro will be a-return to the extrayaganco which has characterised tho 'administration of the Governnient since : the ; days of Ballance, and .which has been especially, notorious,during - the' past three, years.' ' There, is ah ; . uncertainty 'as to;, what new. recklessness .our plunging ■■Prime-.Minister'.'may., indulge in. With the largo majority theSEBDON and-Ward' Governments "have 'had behind them in Parliament, the Opposition has; bceni practically; helpless' to thwart their designs, whether' for good or ill,' and' they. have■dono -almost as they, pleased without .fear, ; of consequences, We expressed the opinion at the general 'ploction, and wd still'hold it, that one ,of the best things,—short of tho expulsion of tho Government from office—that could happen to; New Zealand would be the re-

turn. of an Opposition strong enough in numbers: to force Ministers to 'exercise a proper care in the administration of public affairs. With a strong Opposition we should have had a more cautious Government—and the country would have been saved from' the legislative muddling and wasteful extravagance with which everyone must now be thoroughly familiar. The Opposition came back strengthened after the polls last year, and there will be a further.opportunity, to-morrow for the electors of Rangitikci to add another member .to \their,.ranks. They will bo acting in the interests of tho whole colony, as well,'as, in; that of electorate, in recording their -votes , ., in

favour of ; the Eefprm party's candidate; Mbi Hookly. A strong Opposition would afford a? guarantee of sounder government, and sounder government :: would mean a restoration of that confidence which is so" essential to the free circulation of capital and a more rapid development '.qf the country's.'resources. i' .