Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th, 1919. HIS EXCELLENCY’S SPEECH.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th, 1919. HIS EXCELLENCY’S SPEECH.

Tiie Speech from the Throne, with which the Governor-General opened Parliament, is not a very moving document this session. Actually, nothing of a startling nature could be expected under the circumstances, so folk need not be surprised at the rather bald and 'unconvincing staement it really is. In the customary phraseology some past history is retold, and the recent defection of the Liberal Ministers is referred to in quite a. tone of regret. Some measures are foreshadowed, but the nature of their contents is not revealed, and there is no suggestion of policy put forward. At the best, the session can be only a make-shift one. 'The impending general election is long overdue, and the sooner it materialises the better for the political peace of the country so that there will be some chance of matters settling down to something approaching normal conditions. It will be U'c duty of Parliament to pass the necessary legislation arising out of the Peace Treaty, to arrange financial matters, including arrangements for a war settlement loan, and to dispose of the Estimates. Wo are informed by the Speech that the Estimates have been prepared under the direction of the National Ministers, so that there is not likely to be any protracted debate on the general expenditure. There is one subject touched upon which is sure to crop up in a debatable Form, and that is the question of the coal shortage, under which such serious loss and inconvenience lias been put upon the country The Speech does not contain any suggesion of policy to cope with the grave situation and prevent a recurrence, but it is on the hoards that the House might be. put to a. sharp test on the matter. It mil bo recalled that

the Acting Prime Minister and his colleagues here held hack the publication of the Board of Trade report till Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward had been consulted about its publication. Having this official document for its guidance, it is for the Government to decide now whether it is prepared to give effect or not to the proposals; and if not, . what other step, short of nationalisation, will be proposed. This might easily be a test question for the present Parliament, and if the motion were to traverse the inaction of the Government on the matter, it would become a subject of want of confidence. The Speech refers in complimentary terms to the well-established success of the Lake Coleridge electric scheme. This reference is special kudos to the Liberal Government of the past, which went on with the costly scheme, despite the strong opposition of the party now in power. Hydro-electric ! power is now to come all over t.he Do- | minion, and in this way at least, by the utilisation of “white” coal, there will he nn enormous saving of “black” coal for other purposes. Biit the development process will be long, for so far the Public Works Department of this country does not show much sign of hustling where public necessities call for greater activity. The session now launched is sure to .be interesting, and it is uot unlikely as events progress, some surprises might come to the surface.