The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1918. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1918. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

In accordance with a peculiar but time-honoured custom a Speech from the Throne at the opening of Parliament is usually less remarkable for what it says than for what it leaves unsaid. As a rule it is compiled in a spirit , of studied reserve and tends rather to- baffle than to satisfy curiosity. With these familiar facts in mind the Speech which was read by the Eaul of Liverpool yesterday may be described as more than ordinarily frank, and not devoid of promise. It contains at least some morsels of comfort for those who'desire an assurance that Parliament will be afforded an opportunity during the next month or two of handling in a purposeful way some at any rato of the great national problems which war conditions have brought into the forefront-problems whichwill tax the ability and energies of the Government and Parliament at least as heavily as any measures that have had to be planned and dealt with since the outbreak oi war. In its brief and presumably incomplete outline of policy proposals the Speech touches upon some matters that might have been brought up even when purely war legislation monopolised attention. It_ is proposed, for instance, to bring down measures "for the better protection' of soldiers, their wives and dependants." At & broad view the provision already made A or soldiers and their dependants in the way of pay and pensions and in other respects is reasonably liberal and satisfactory, but experience is constantly bringing detail delects and anomalies to light, and it is, of course, necessary that these shouJ' be as'far as possible remedied and removed. A proposal regarding tho prevention of the acquisition of land in New Zealand by persons of enemy origin—no doubt an improvement or extension of existing enactments under this head—is likely to leave as little room for controversy. In regard to demobilisation and repatriation it is promised that a comprehensive scheme will be submitted during the session. The questions involved are, of course, amongst the most urgent and important that will claim the attention of Parliament in the im-

mediate future. A good deal has already been done towards getting the machinery of repatriation into working order; and in earmarking special funds for public works and in other ways some preparations have been made in advance to cope with the problems of the demobilisation period, but it is very necessary that everything possible should bo done to round off these preparations.

With its normal and inevitable features, including such a reference as might be expected to the ever-present but exceedingly difficult cost of living problem, the Speech has others which suggest that the working scope of the present session may be appreciably broadened as compared with that of earlier sessions during the war period. Since the formation of the National Government ordinary domestic legislation of the kind that used to resolve itself into a theme of party strife has been kept do" to the irreducible minimum. In yesterday's Speech, however, the Government indicates that it proposes to bring down _ some _ important items of domestic legislation. Measures are forecasted to deal with. education, land aggregation, water-power development and forestry, and although this is far from exhausting the field in which useful activity by Parliament is possible, it may be called a promising beginning. There is little to be said about the detail proposals until more is known about them,- but it is a point to be emphasised that a stage has been reached at which the interests of the country plainly demand that Parliament should turn its attention to some questions which have been subordinated or completely set aside during-the- last four years. This contention is not weakened in any way by the fact that the remaining duration of the war is still uncertain. There is no clear line of demarcation to be j drawn between measures which were and are urgently and imperatively demanded in the national interest and for _■ the sake of the effective prosecution of the war I and measures which are _ quite as imperatively demanded in order that the problems the war will leave in its wake may be adequately dealt with. Assuming the most favourable course of events now possible New Zealand will emerge from the war with its national debt not far short of being doubled and with its revenue, in this way and in others, heavily mortgaged. The only way in which we can_ afford to meet the conditions implied is by inaugurating such, comprehensive measures of reorganisation and development as will tend largely to increase the productive powers of the Dominion. Such conditions as are in prospect should certainly not be approached with folded hands, least of all by the Government and Parliament. To what extent pre-war party lines retain their former significance is at the moment somewhat uncertain, but it is plain enough that the interests of the country demand the same concentration upon the problems of demobilisation and those-of a rapid development and expansion of the national resources as has been aprl ig in the main secured upon the prosecution of the war. It is equally clear that in whatever degree party -interests obstruct the earliest 'attack upon, these great problems permitted by the remaining duration of the war. and attendant circumstances they will run directly counter to the national interests.