Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 8th, 1920. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE Bth, 1920. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

In about a fortnight’s time the new Parliament will assemble in Wellington, and will set out on what should be one of the most important sessions in our political history. There is very little yet to indicate the programme of the Government.. Mr Massey’s manifesto at the time of the general election is not much to the fore just now, but the Government is sure to be reminded of their hustings’ promises if they do not attempt to deliver the “goods” promptly. In the six months which have intervened since the election there has not been much apparent effort on the part of the Government to deal with national affairs. Mr Massey has not been able even to complete his Cabinet, and even now on the eve of the session ho is still without a. complete team. Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, the leader of the J,ibernl party, has said very pointedly that the Government has been “drifting, drifting, drifting.” Apparently Mr Massey and his following have been waiting for something auspicious to turn up, but fortune is not favouring them in that respect. Instead, the Ministry is finding that there is a serious financial situation to be faced, and the Government proposals to meet it will he awaited with interest. But, apart from the financial position, there are other matters to be considered in conjunction with the general prosperity of the country. These matters led up to the financial position, which can be relieved only by a coordination of the public- administration. One aid to the lietterment of the country will be closer settlement whereby there will bo more producers who will create national wealth by their efforts. New Zealand has need for more settlement and the production of staple articles of produce to ensure a full food supply. For wheat for instance —tho staff of life—we are beholden to Ails-

t.ralia for our own main supply, and greater self-reliance must be shown. Closer settlement can be adjusted to a great extent automatically if the Government be bold enough to revise its tenure and taxation proposals. Highland values will not help closer settlement, and where these values are obtaining as a result in undue land trafficking taxation on land sales would help to control prices, and give the purchaser a better start, for he would

not have so great a burden of debt to bear. As to tenure, there should be a limit to the area, of freehold held, more enecinlly if such land is being

held solely for speculative purposes, or is not producing a fair return for the value put upon it. Something radical must needs be done to cope with the land question if closer settlement is to be brought about in an equitable way to all parties affected. If there is more land available at a reasonable- price there will be more people ready to go on the land, and the country will thereby solve the two problems by one act—closer settlement and greater production. Will the Government move along these lines? Perhaps not exactly as we would wish, but the time is approaching when public opinion will re--1 quire the Governmentto deliver the “goods”, and some variation of the tenure, and certainly increased land taxa- | tion (particularly on the unimproved value) must come to pass. Probably Mr ; Massey might show some disposition yet to open up this all important* quos- 1 tion at the forthcoming session.