The Dominion. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 1, 1917. THE SESSION'S WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 32, 1 November 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 1, 1917. THE SESSION'S WORK

Though it gave rise to at least an average amount of lime-wasting talk, the session of Parliament which is now ending lias been by no means barren. On the whole the programme of work put through comes reasonably up to expectations lorined when the National Government had, outlined its policy proposals. Other matters apart, lh<> sessma is. made notable by the fact wait in its opening days Parliament, for the first time- in tho history oi this country, received the report of Ministers who had visited London,, not merely to confer with membm of the British Government, cut to sit and vote with them as wl 11a u i i tlie Iln P <; ™l War Cabinet, lne problem of giving the Dominions an effective voice in Imperial affairs- not only on special occasions, but nt all times, still presents ! difficult aspects, but the events of this year mark unquestionably a definite and permanent departure from tho conditions which existed before the war. From the local standpoint the commanding feature of tho session's work is the enactment of' financial measures involving taxation and local borrowing on a scale- that would have been dcI rided in pre-war days as wildly impracticable-. Here, also, we have broken with the past. It is evident that no merely negative policy of economy will enable us to cope-with the burdens which are piling up so rapidly, and that the only way to i make these burdens tolerable is to bring all possible energy to bear, as soon as circumstances permit, upon a policy of development and expansion of primary and other industries. Attention , must, of course, bo paid to economy in spending, and one outcome- of the session for w-hich credit is due to the members who concentrated attention on tho matter is tho decision to appoint a commission to inquire into Defence expenditure. This is belated action which should have been taken in the first year of war instead of the fourth, but oven now it may lead up to important economies. • Good work has certainly been done by the Government and Parliament this year in making more liberal provision for soldiers and their depondants, and something , has been done also to extend and improve- measures already taken in connection with the restoration of soldiers to civil life. By legislation and regulation, pensions and allowances have been substantially inoreased, and the maximum grant payable under the operation of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board.has been inorcased from £2 to £3 per week. As a whole the provision made seems to afford little scope for legitimate criticism. All would like to do more for our soldiers and their dependants if circumstances permitted, but in face of the information laid before Parliament by tho Minister ov Finance it must bo recognised that for the present at any rate Cnbinet has gone as far as possible with safety. Commendable energy and foresight have- been shown also in the matter of restoring soldiers to civil life. A great deal of valuable work has already been done by the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, and a good deal of success has attended tho measures taken in settling returned soldiors on the land. By amending legislation this year Parliament materially extended the working scope of the- Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, and tho amount of the loan which may be granted to a discharged soldier has been increased. Very necessary provision for the future was made in approving a Government proposal to set aside £2,000,000 to be expended 'over a period of two years in providing employment on public and local body works for soldiers demobilised at the conclusion of the war. War increases in old-age, veterans', widows', and miners' pensions constituted a secondary, but not unimportant, feature in the financial legislation of the session, and were obviously demanded by the necessities of the times.

The action of the House of Representatives in voting by an unexpectedly large majority to close hotel bars at 6 p.m. stands as the first appreciable move made in this country towards instituting a campaign of national economy, though the imposition of a small amusements tax is perhaps entitled to be considered in the same category. Other details of tho session's work which deserve attention are the inquiries conducted by Select Committees into the operations of the Meat Trust and into tho cost of living problem. The Committee appointed to inquire into tho first of these questions brought down a report which should be of material assistance to the Government in shaping a policy calculated to defeat the aggression of the Meat Trust. The inquiry into the cost of living attracts attention on somewhat different grounds. It soryed its principal purpose in emphasising tho fact that the problem of bringing down high prices does not admit of any direct or easy remedy. The Government has been much blamed for its failure to deal with cost of living, but it is not easy, and the report of the Cost of Living Committee has not made it easier, to point to any comprehensive measure which would bo likely to accomplish the purpose desired. It is to be admitted that the Government has shown some address during the past session iu disarming its critics both in Parliament and in the country. Tho Cost of Living inquiry stands out conspicuously in this connection, but a similar result was achieved by tho Government when it took members into its confidence, at secret meetings, _ in regard to the financial situation and ou.tlook. This was a wise and a. proper step. Members are entitled to the fullest possible information concerning the matters in which they aro expected to cast a vote, whereas in thesetimes, when special care has to be exorcised by Ministers in what they make public, there- is a natural tendency to reticence. By taking members more fully into their confidence at private sittings Cabinet removed a growing grievance and at the same, time avoided risk'of a harmful publicity being given to their utterances. The effect was must marked iu the conduct of the business of tho House, matters proceeding with unexampled smoothness. Tho introduction of these private or semi-private sittings do not, of course, mean that the National Government is entitled to or will escape reasonable criticism. Thcro is and willbo no lack of scope for helpful criticism.. Tho

work of tho session has been in some, respects exacting, and Ministers and members have had serious problems to face, particularly in the matter of maintaining a sound finance. Tho most marked weakness, perhaps, has been tho seeming inability of Parliament to adequately realiso the necessity for maintaining and increasing production. Too littlethought and attention is given to this matter—too much is taken for granted. We must look to the Efficiency Board for a lead in the direction of organisation to ensure that production shall nob languish for lack of the labour needed for our primary industries.