The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, MARCH 14th, 1921. THE SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times.” MONDAY, MARCH 14th, 1921. THE SESSION.

Tun session now in progress opened as was rather expected by the Opposition offering a challenge to the Government. The only useful purpose the challenge will issue will lie. to draw public attention to the political situation and to the little that is being done in a practical way to redeem the conn try from the stringent position into which it is -drifting by force of 'the world economic position. Work and wages have been plentiful; markets have been good and money has been flowing into the country. The markets are falling and the flow is declining, and while work for the time being is still plentiful, wages arc higher than they can alford to he with the times ahead. The cost of living is being added to both by the heavy cost of production and the reduced volume of production. Tlic political aspect ol the matter is not being stressed. Government has been content to continue the ninning of the country as though prices should he kept up. In point of fact Government has been seeking to keep prices up by subsidies and other artificial aids, and on the other hand it has not striven to keep up the rate of production. In this latter regard it lias let organised labour do as it pleased. The coal situation is an example of this iaxtiv. Government has gone on pay-

ing extravagant prices to get coal irom anyliere, without attempting t° control production here in ample quantity and at a fair price. The country is paving an enormous toll for this laxity ol administration. The Government, as usual, took the 1 iin* of least resistance, jt was easier to buy coal elsewhere and import it, than place the production of coal in New Zealand on a definite basis. Hut the. people have to make up the difference hi the* cost just tin* Name. Yet with Labour acting as it is, the Government has the people behind it and the present Ministry weak as it is in personnel and policy has solid support all through the country, not because of its policy, hut because of its safety so far as national aims and aspirations abo concerned. The present I attack on tho Government by amendments to the Address-in-Reply is doom- , I ed to failure, because ol the feeling referred to, running through the country. The Liberals are quite, right in demanding that the business—very urgent at that—of the country should not he put off indefinidy because the Prime Minister goes to England. There is a catalogue of important matters crying out for attention, for in Mr Massey’s absence there is no one with ability enough to lead the House. But rail as they may, the Liberals will he routed on the point in question, and New Zealand will have to struggle along as best it may till Mr Massey returns. The Labour amendment has been concocted lo catch the eye, hut it has its defects, and one serious one is the illogical attitude which asks that Sir ' James Allen should represent Mr Massey at Home, while Sir Francis Roll may not do so here. If it is wrong for Sir Francis Bell to hold the Premierslffp during Mr Massey’s absence because he is not elect of the people, it is more than wrong that Sir .Tames Allen should act at Home for the Prime Minister. Mr Massey is going on a mission on behalf of New Zealand, and for the time being whether Labor or Liberal like it or pot, Mr Massey in the

representative of the people ;is a whole, and in the large questions of policy to be dealt with, he is the one to determine the action for the Dominion. It will be he who will have to stand the brunt of his actions, and it is right and proper that he and not a deputy should face the ordeal. No doubt Liberal and Labor are agreed that the session’s work should be done leisurely and well and in proper order. 'The people think so, too, hut for the time being the power to govern has passed into the hands of a party which was largely assisted to obtain its sweeping majority by the tactics of Labour in politics and in the industrial world, and Labor as at present led is still the chief asset Air Massey and his party have for maintaining them as the dominant, power in New Zealand politics. Recognising this, it is as well to accept the position and make the best ol things as they are till time in its own good season works a necessary change for the better.