The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times.) SATURDAY, SEPT. Ist, 1923. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Const Times.) SATURDAY, SEPT. Ist, 1923. THE WEEK.

I’Aiti.iAMENT closed down on Tuesday, after a short- hut busy session, governed for tile most part by one consideration; that was to get finished in time for the Prime Alinister to leave for London on August 28. For this reason the programme was eurtail.nl, several impo.tant measures being heat over till next year, while the legislation that was passed was generally : lit through without adequate deliberation. Towards the end of the session, indeed, members were frequently begged by the Government to accept whatever was placed before them and cut the debates short because the I’iimc .Minister had Looked his berth. Hence the inciden,e of taxation, with all its admitted defects and inequalities, remains unchanged, except that big land holders have received a concession and the masses have had a duty on ligar imposed upon them. The weight of the income tax burden has certainly been reduced by 20 per cent, which is a measure of relief not to be desired but t 4.0 long-promised examination and overhaul of the whole system of taxation has again been denied, while the policy of taxing joint . tool; companies in the bulk and on a graduated scale continues to discourage anterpri.se and cripple expansion. Parliament should, of course, have performed its work ] roperly by continuing the session without Air Massey, and there is no reason why this could not have been done, except that the I’iime Alinister thinks his colleagues are not to be trusted in his absence with Parliament in session, and lhey apparently agree with him. Apart from a reduction of taxation, the principal works of the session are the decision to rescue the soldier settlers from their difficulties, an extension of the State advances policy, some amendments to the war pensions .scheme, and the passing of the Dairy Expoit Conin'. 1 Act.

With regard to the soldier settlors, the public has not been given the whole of the reports of the Inquiry Hoards, but it has been informed that of the seven thousand odd ex-soldiers placed upon the land by the Alassey Government, 50 per cent, must be classed as total or partial failures, and that very heavy public* expenditure must be incurred in remedying the situation. The most serious of many mistakes was the purchase of land at inflated prices. These lands are now to he revalued —as the Liberal Party demanded—so that rents may be reduced to figures that will enable the settlors to make a living, while there are to be remissions and postponements of arrears of rent, interest ami so forth. The Prime Minister’s estimate, which is not likely to he nn exaggerated one, is that relief to the soldier settlors will cost the country a couple of million pounds, which is rather rough on the taxpayers when the principal cause is over-spending in the purchase of land. AVo hope t If* electors will in duo course punish >lv Government according to its offence The extension of the system of State advances which Parliament has authorised is primarily intended to assist people to obtain dwellings, and it- must be confessed that if the Government is in earliest it possesses in this measure, under which advances up to 95 per cent- of value may* be made foi the building of homos, an instrument which may have a potent influence on the housing problem. Experience has s.iOwn, however, especially in relation to housing, that the Alassey Government is much better at window-dress-ing than at doing actual business.

PnoMABi.Y the most serious blot on the session, next to the Daily Export Control Act, says tie “Lyttelton 1 imees ’ is the failure to deal with the licensing question. This is a matter which seriously affects the lives of the citizens, since their liberties are in jeopardy and their habits may be changed by a majority vote, while it must also be recognised that the licensing laws directly affect the conduct of a business in which very large capital is involved. Stability in regard to licensing is, no doubt, desired also by the prohibitionists. who nro under the expense ol running a considerable organisation. All concerned—the public especially—have, in fact, rights that Parliament should recognise, and since it is no secret that changes of large consequence are to be proposed, the refusal of the Government to allow Parliament to function during Mr Massey’s absence is a vety inadequate excuse for keeping everybody in suspense. At the dcse of the session Bills wore circulated, for consideration during the recess, dealing with the public debt and with the electoral system. AA T e shall take other opportunities of discussing these proposals. A\ e need only say at the moment that it seems to us very like a breach of faith tor a Government to repeal the Debt Extinction Act after having advertised it in every loan prospectus as an inducement to investors. As to the electoral proposals, supporters of r>roportional representation can at least claim some measure of victory when even a partial application of this principle is contained in a Bill corning from the Government,

iis Electoral Bill, aa announced by Mr Massey, who intends to make an effort to secure its passage next session has been circulated. It provides for the compulsory registration of electors, throwing the onus of registration on them, subject to penalties for failure to register and notify changes of address. Preferential voting is to apply in all constituenees, excepting tae lour groups of city constituencies, where proportional representation is to operate. The electoral groups under proportional representation are: Auckland division, live membeis, comprising the electoral districts of Auckland West, Central, East, Grey Lynn and Parnell. Wellington division, live members, comprising Wellington North, Central, East, South and Suburbs. Christchurch division, four members, comprising Christchurch North, East South, and Avon. Dunedin division, four members comprising Dunedin North, West, Central and South. If a by-election occurs in the grouped seats, it will be conducted under the preferential voting system. The machinery clauses for preferential voting show that a voter is not compelled to exercise inoie than one preference. The qualification for enrolment is varied by providing for three months’ residence in the electoral district prior to application for enrolment.

Within the last few months two distinguished men of science have refused offers of very huge sums to commercialise their discoveries. Dr Spahlinger ignoied an offer of £60,000, with a half-share in. any company formed to manufacture the serum and vaccines he has discovered for the euro of tuberculosis, He did so on the ground that the exploitation of the specific would result in inferior serums, place the remedy beyond the reach of the poor, and prevent the publication of the formula when the. time was "ipc. Similarly Dr. F. G. Banting, discoverer of the insulin treatment for diabetes refused a tempting offer to exploit the uisoovory financially. In his case, however, the Canadian Government has established a. notable precedent by unanimously voting him an annuity of 7,500 dollars. The following motion wa« proposed by th<> Prime Minister and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition: ‘'That whereas the recent discovery of the insulin treatment lor diabetes, by Dr. F. G. Banting, of Toronto, as the result of devoted application, and research, and the discoverer’s disinterested and generous action in pin. - .ing it at the disposal of the public, have conferred inestimable uenelit. not only on the Canadian people, but on sufferers in all parts ol the world, it is expedient that Parliament should give some expression of the • ation’s gratitude to one who lias rendered such distinguished service to science and humanity, and that such recognition should take the lorm of a vote of an annuity sufficient to permit Dr Banting to devote his life to medical research.”

In a report on the economic conditions in France at the end of March last. Mr J. R. Cahill. British Commercial Counsellor ill Paris, said: '‘While tile condition of the public finances icijuires urgent treatment, the present economic position of the country is strong. The industrial population is fully employed and the output in most fields of production is limited only by the dearth cf man-power. Not. only in materi 1 resources and in industrial equipment, hut also in the organisation and direction of the forces at tier disposal France has acquired new powers. Her ports, waterways, railways, roads, have been and aic lieing improved; the water-power is being rysteniaticallv turned to account ; sbe has brought within her own area large new resources ill ores, coal, potash and oil. as well as highly developed metallurgical, engineering and textile industries; and not only in the devastated areas, but in many other parts oi France new and modern factories ler the principal branches of industry have sprung up. This material progress in equipment for production purposes has been attended by advance in industrial organisation. In the great basic industries of the country there lias been n, movement of consolidation both on regional and national lines. French foreign trade' has already surpassed 'ts pre-war figures as regards weight. The trade with her own possessions is gaining in importance, and that with British markets shows signs of development.”