The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1916. THE SECOND WAR SESSION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2766, 9 May 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1916. THE SECOND WAR SESSION

The attention of members of Parliament during the session which will-be opened to-day will, of course, be concontratcd on the war. It will be their first and foremost business to consider' how -New Zealand can increase its'contribution to the fighting power of the Empire. Until the final victory has been won everything else.is, comparatively speaking, unimportant. The present is'no time for wrangling or for prolonged debates which can produce no tangible results. No apology need be offered for thoughtful constructive criticism, but anything in the nature of obstruction or party warfare in any form would be intolerable. Parliament should' get to business with all speed, and keep to business until all that is required to be done has been thoroughly done. It is the duty of the Government to set a good example by having its Bills, reports, and other papers ready, so that there may be no unnecessary delay, and members might well keep a bridle/on their tongues, and refrain from speaking unless they have some fresh light to throw oil the matter under consideration. Never was economy in speech moro desirable than at the present time. Parliamentary talk is an expensivo luxury just now, and the Government should keep a watchful eye on the session's printing. There is undoubtedly room for the" exercise of economy in this matter. The cost of Parliamentary papers has been far too high, and a substantial saving might easily be effected .without causing any real inconvenience to anyone. There is no need for a prolonged session, but there are many reasons why the business should lie transacted as quickly as is compatible with thoroughness and the proper exercise of the right of free - criticism. One of the reasons for holding an early session is that the Piumk Minister and the Minister of Finance may be able to pay a visit to London at an early date. Before leaving they naturally want to be quite sure that everything is in order, and that the Government has Parliamentary authority for dealing with any emergencies that may arise. It is absolutely necessary that the defects''in the war pensions scheme should be remedied, it is generally agreed that the pension conditions should be made more liberal. The precise nature of the Government's proposals has not yet been made public, but the- people of New Zealand will be much disappointed if this matter 'is not dealt with in a broad and generous (spirit. It is understood .that the Minister of Finance will be in a position to show a very substantial surplus, in spite of the extraordinary expenditure in connection with ' the war. This fact should not be regarded as an excuse for extravagance. The strictest economy consistent with efficiency should be exercised in all departments of State, aucl if there is nay. mouc-y to spare it should be usee!

for the purpose of giving more liberal treatment to our wounded soldiers_ and those dependent on them. Parsimoniousness in this direction is not legitimate cconomy. The most important item in the session's business will be the consideration of tho national service problem. In dealing with this matter our Parliament might with advantage give heed to recent developments in, Britain. The half-hearted measures by which the Asquith Government at first attempted to make good the deficiencies of the voluntary system satisfied neither tho opponents nor tho advocates of compulsion, and it soon bccame evident that they would not provide the number of men which the military authorities considered necessary for the winning of the war. The first timid instalment of compulsion was neither fair nor sufficient. The pressure of public opinion eventually compelled the Government to do what it ought to have, done as soon as it became evident that the needs of the army could not be supplied by voluntary methods. When Mr, Asquith at length resolved to bring in a Bill providing for general and immediate compulsion, he discovered that he. had greatly over-estimated the strength of the opposition both in- , and out of Parliament. Tho country had become sick and tired of-the Government's hesitation and indecision, and the definite'declaration in favour of compulsion', was heartily welcomed by the overwhelm'-' mg majority of tho people. It, is to be hoped that the Government and Parliament of IsV.v Zealand will bear these things in mind when thoy have the question of national service unde'r consideration. Let there be no tinkering with the problem. Let the right thing bo done, and done courageously. If the Government does its duty fearlessly, tho country, will support it whole-heart-edly. It is only by firm and resolute action that the Government' can expeefc to keep the. nation's confidence, ft is a great encouragement to our fighting forces to know that they aro backed up by a Government and people at one in mind nnd purpose. l£ is, therefore, important (as Mk. Lloyd: George declared in his inspiring speech at Conway) that the people should bo confident that their Government is doing its best, in tho firmest and most resolute manner, in the conduct of the war. A badly conducted war means a bad,peace, which' is no all. It would be a good thing if everv member of the New_Zealand- Parliament would read and bear in mind during the coming session every word of Mit. Li,on> George's Conway specefi, Ho' hits right home, and most of what he says'is just, as applicable to us m Nov/ Zealand us to the' British public. He makes a sound point when he asserts that there is' no indignity about compulsion. Some erroneous and mischievous ideas, are prevalent in regard to compulsory service. There is nothing degrading about it. The adoption of national service would simply mean that "the nation had organised itself lor war in an orderly, consistent, and* resolute fashion." We arc fighting for our existence against the most military and most highly prgani'sed nation in the world, and it is folly to expect to win if we adhere to the old go-as-you-please methods. This is a war which is not suing to be won by half-measures and timid compromises. \