The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1919. PARLIAMENT AND ITS WORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 267, 7 August 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1919. PARLIAMENT AND ITS WORK

I ' Paruament, it is announced, will meet on August 28, and the Prime Ministeh has said that the session is not likely to be a long one, though there is some important business to be done. With an election due to take place before the #id of the year, the session cannot well bo very long. At the same time a glance at the work that awaits attention makes it evident that anything in the nature of a rush session would be distinctly inimical (o the interests of the country. The occasion probably is without precedent in the history of the New Zealand Parliament 'in the demand it makes for the prompt but unhurried handling of big issues. Early in the session Parliament will be'' asked to ratify the peace settlement and give due consideration to the new responsibilities tho Dominion has assumed. In particular, arrangements must be made on a permanent basis for the government of ex-German Samoa, which meantime is being administered under the same general conditions as when it was occupied enemy territory. Important as they are, these items of business ought not to take up much time, but a great deal remains. The whole of the_ numerous measures of war legislation and of the regulations based unoii these Acts "must be overhauled with a view not only to making an end of what is no longer required, but to extending the operation of ;War measures where this is necessary, notably in the case of the moratorium. In view of the heavy burdens tho country has incurred, and the great obligations it is'called Upon to meet, some of them in the immediate future, finance In - , itself will call for the best consideration members can give it. As has been pointed out repeatedly, it is urgently necessary that the current incidence of taxation should be reviewed. Then again, some aspects of repatriation policy call for early attention. Some amendments of existing practice are called for in connection with soldier settlement and other details, and undoubtedly it would make for the efficient completion of the work of repatriation if control and responsibility were vested in a single Minister. As far as can bo judged, the system of control by a Ministerial Board has resolved itself in.practice into a polite fiction. Authority has been'-freely delegated to district and local repatriation committees, with excellent results; and soldier settlement, if appearances do not lie, is for practical purposes the concern of the Minister of Lands. _ Under these conditions the machinery of repatriation seems to be running very well, but it would still be a clear gain and make for the fullest co-ordination if authority over the whole enterprise were given to a single Minister. These intentions apart, Parliament ought not to prorogue without giving ordered consideration to forwarding the national development works for which great and promising acopo exists in this country. Even in the conditions of the session about to open it should be possible to put matters definitely in train for the vigorous prosecution at the earliest moment possible of such efntcrprises as hydro-electric development, as well as for making up leeway in road and railway construction and other works which of necessity were subordinated during the war period. Early -attention to such questions is all the more imperatively called for since it offers by far (he most hopeful, approach to effective treatment of the cost of living problem. In spite of the fact that New Zealand is very much hotter off than Britain and other countries in this matter, the high cost of living accounts for a 'great deal of unrest and discontent, and whatever may be accomplished by regulation and price-control, it is certain that the most hopeful remedy is to be found in broadening tho-scope of settlement and stimulating production.' An enterprising public works policy is likely to connote the encouragement of immigration, but this is an argument against,postponing consideration of such'a policy. If New Zealand is to obtain immigrants of the right type she must be early in the field; it is evident that there will be no lack of competition. Not one of the items that ffas been touched upon can bo passed over without'injury to the interests of the country, and tho mimimum demand made upon Parliament is that it should honestly endeavour at least to cover as much of the ground : as possible. The root question at stake is whether party or national interests are to be given first place. If members, or a majority of them, intend to take up their duties at the end of this month with thoughts fixed upon a severance on party lines, and such an electoral contest as this would connote, 'then obviously any hope of a useful working session is foredoomed. AVhatever the actual prospect may be, it ought ro be the determining factor that the interests' of the country imperatively demand the unimpeded operation of its legislative and administrative machinery. . The only way to bring about tho right conditions—at all events to secure this result promptly—is to broaden out the present imperfect truce between the two main parties—or the more progressive elements in the two parties--into an effective working union. Nothing but personal and party ambitions and artificial'animosities stood in the way of such a union when the truce was established. The war, of course, imposed many limitations upon normal national activities, hut it was in deference to such ambitions and animosities much more than to any real, necessity that the truce took the limited shape it did. So far as broad lines of policy are concerned, the two main parties stanch on common ground. Everything else, assuming that loyal regard for the </el fare of the Dominion is taken as a guide to action, is a matter of detail arrangement. An attempt to shew that these parties arc divided on any essential principle would be an empty pretence. In the past not a little energy was expended by their members in creating unreal grounds of antagonism, and their disputes did much to hamper and delay reforms in which they might well have' co-nperatcd. The great question of local government reform, with its all-important bearing on general national development, is a conspicuous case in 'point. The necessity of setting a period to petty bickering and substituting an agreement to work together for the

good of the Dominion is so obvious that it would bo unpardonable to reiterate and dwell upon it but for the danger still in sight that, in spite of the demands of patriotism and the dictates of common sense, party strife on the old lines may be resumed. The immediate danger brings others in its train. Mk. Massey the other day, in of industrial unrest, expressed a confident opinion that New Zealandcrs are too level-headed to be carried away by outside influences. It is possible to very heartily echo that opinion, but the reservation is plainly called for that rational and unselfish action by the leaders and members of the political parties is essential if the people over whom they are appointed to govern are to do themselves justice. The first thing necessary to avert the dangers which confront the Dominion is a plain and unequivocal declaration by the party leaders that they recognise and admit the need of establishing a riew order in New Zealand politics. While such a. declaration is withheld the outlook must be. unpromising, and those who withhold it assume the heavy responsibility of subordinating the interests of the Dominion to those of faction. Both leaders have had something to say in general terms about -the desirability of co-opera-tion and setting aside petty divisions but the occasion calls for plain speech, and not only for speech but for action. ' '