The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1912. A BOLD POLICY WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1912. A BOLD POLICY WANTED.

The Massey Government, will take up its burden in real earnest to-day when Parliament reassembles. During ths past three weeks Ministers havq been working very hard getting into touch with their Departments, receiving deputatiras,: and preparing their legislative programme, or as much of it as was possible in the short time at their disposal. Up to the present, however, beyond the fact that they have shown great industry and a commendable departure from the practice of the Continuous Ministry, who wasted so much time and money rushing about the country electioneering, they have not had either the time or the opportunity to prove their qualities or to proclaim their programme. On Tuesday next, however, tho policy and intentions' of the Government will be made known and the programme for the session outlined, and it is in this connection that we desire to direct attention to some of the matters which appear to call for comment. The tnreo outstanding questions of the moment are: (1) Land settlement; (2) industrial unrest; and (3) financial reform. These subjects are amongst those which will call for the earliest attention of the new Government, and which will require to be faced boldly and definitely. Electoral reform, administrative reform, and Legislative Council reform are all important matters, but they can better afford to wait than can the .three' subjects mentioned above.

So far as the question of land settlement is concerned the general polio}' of the Reform Government is well enough known. The party has always _ favoured the freehold—or rather it has advocated the optional tenure which gives the right to the freehold—and there can be no departure from this. But the granting of the right to the freehold does not by any means settle the land question._ What is wanted, of course, is land upon which' the people can settle, and while this is to some extent a matter of administration—the pushing on of surveys, the roading and opening-up of idle Crown and Native lands, and the acquisition and_ cutting lip of large estates —the policy of the Government in these directions must be declared without reservation. The country is sick and weary of wobbling on the land question and of promises to push oh settlement which nave fallen lamentably short in fulfilment, and the Massey Government in consequence has a great opportunity to distinguish itself by taking ft bold course and pressing forward settlement to the extent of every penny available for the purpose. Until the financial position is fully disclosed it is impossible to say what funds will be nfc the disposal of the Government for the purchase of estates, or for roading and survey work, but. there can bp 119 question . whatever that eo far as their means.

permit;, the Government must pusn on with tho task of providing h.'nd for settlement with the utmost dispatch. It is a matter for regret that Mr. Massey should not be in a position, owing to the short time at his disposal, to bring forward this session the whole of tho policy proposals of the Government iu the matter of land settlement. We should have preferred to see this subject dealt with in a thorough fashion at once, but _ perhaps, in the circumstances, this waa expecting too much. •The phases dealt with, however, should be treated in such a manner as will leave 110 doubt in the minds of the public that the new Government is prepared to stand or fall by the principles it has so long fought for. The probable programme of the Government in the matter of industrial legislation is a subject of particular interest because of the widespread unrest in labour circles, and th?, harmful effect this unrest has had on the industries of the Dominion. There is not the slightest doubt -,lnt our industries have not developed as fast as they should have done, and while the whole blame for this sts'-,. of things cannot be laid at Lbe of our Labour-legislation v* L r|, rectly or indirectly it ' important factor assisting to bring about tli a condition of affairs complained ~f. p or some mi , p as (. the , Act has been subjected; to a great deal of wcll-de-sex-ved abuse. It has failed miserably as a compulsory measure and it lias been tinkered with and patched up in various directions without very much good resulting. A few days ago we suggested the introduction of a system of settling disputes by means of a tribunal composed of workers and employers in the particular occupation concerned; a Judge of Supreme Court in the district ia which the dispute occurs to bij called in as final arbiter pu any points on which agreement flad proved impossible. By excluding agents, or special pleaders, the chances of amicable settlement are in most cases increased. But whether the Government decides on this or aiiy similar system it is just as well that Ministers should recognise that compulsory conciliation and arbitration has proved a failure. In Canada the public interest is safeguarded to some extent by it being made compulsory for certain forms to be' gone through which provide in effect for a month's notice being given of any intention to strike or to lockout. This protection is reasonable enough, and is said to have worked satisfactorily mainly because it docs not take away the right to strike. Both sides have ample time in the interim to put their case before the community and the weight of public opinion while it may not always act as a deterrent to cither party is an influence which neither can afford to altogether ignore._ On this question of labour legislation, as on the_ land question, the Government, if it is wise, will proclaim its policy boldly and without regard for sectional interests.

So far as financial matters are concerned it would be expecting too much to look for any comprehensive changes during the present session. There may be an alteration in tho land tax; or possibly. some changes hi the system of land valuation which will iimke clearer and more liberal" the definition of improvements. But what the oountry will look for respecting the finances of_ the country will be, above all things, sound and cautions administration. For_ years New Zealand has been boasting huge surpluses and these huge and unnecessary extortions from the taxpayers have been made the cxcuso for huge borrowings. The end of this sort of thing, if persisted in, must be plain to everyone. It is not to be expected that the new Minister for Finance can alter everything at once. It will require the exercise of the greatest care and judgment to prevent the country feeling the pinch of any reduction in the reckless borrowing that has been the backbone of the spendthrift finance of the later years of the Continuous MinThere must be a gradual tapering ,off and a return as rapidly as possible to tho days of self-re-liance. The Government would do well to realise that the country is tired of the trickery and evasion, and all tho paltry pandering to sectional interests and cowardly shirking of_ large issues which brought such ridicule and contempt on tho Ward Administration. The people want straightforward dealing; they want men at the head of the country's affairs who have the courage of their convictions iind who will say "Yes" or "No" as their judgment dictates, regardless of consequences. The Massey Government can damn itself very easily by trimming and hedging, but if it takes the bold course which the past conduct of the party would lead one to look for, it has a great future of usefulness before it and will cover its critics with confusion.