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Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1924, Page 2

I’ahi.iamknt wound tip the debate on the Financial Statement on Friday night; a welcome finish indeed to the waste of time which has been going on for so long in regard to the criticism of the Budget. The debate dojiion.st.ra ted very little, and nothing good appears likely to come out of it. Members were airing their eloquence for the bandit of their constituents, hut as Hansard is so little read nowadays, it is doubtful if one pier cent of the electors will pieruse the remarks which makes the ; so-called debate, nothing more nor less than a sheer waste of time. In these days of advancement, and the desire for better Government, it is time some real reform were brought about in dealing with such documents as the Spieech trnm the Throne, tho Financial Statement. and kikli like. If each side would agree to put up three speakers each, and allow the fullest criticism by tliat restricted number, without ; time-limit, the public would get. all

t>lu* irtforni.'it ion tlioy roquiroci fro the debate. Tt seems to lie a wasl

of ail evening to lie set apart for the reading of tho Financial Statement, h is a printed document, and it would meet the needs of ;h occasion if laid on the table of the House, and handed to the Press r publication. A few days’ interim' could he allowed for the critics to prepare their remarks and anstead i:f weeks being devoted to the matter, about three days would suffice to dispose of a Statement which in any case the Government of tho day is usually in tho position to carry through the House. The saving of time would l>o apparent, while the saving in cost to the country would he enormous. Parliamentary reform is needed very •ailly. and should lie undertaken as n step towards that more economical form of administration which the country really needs. However, for the time being, the ills of the present bums of Government have to lie endured. Perhaps with the Budget out of tho way. better progress will he made with the real business of the country, hut on the whole it will 1 a dull session. Mr Massey's majority is too precarious a thing to trifle with and tho Government will hold the fort, tor the sake of office, and not for tho justification of better Government

--»t Christchurch last week the Automobile Association brought a charge against the Tourist Department, alleging that some of the Tourist officers were in league with the motor services and were not encouraging private motorists to travel to scenic resorts by their own conveyances. Wo notice the Tourist officer at Christchurch has controverted this state-

iiiiiont so far ns ho is concerned personally, Kut it is to 'ho hardly expected that the President of the Automobile Association would go out of his way to make such a charge unless he had first hand knowledge of facts supporting the allegations. Wv are inclined to give civdciir** to the general charge for the reason that it has come within our knowledge that, so far as tile Coast is concerned there have -con Tourist officers who have sought to divert tourist traffic from 'Westland to other places. We helievo that in regard to this matter concrete cases were supplied to headquarters, and that since that time there has been some improvement. Put the Coast has Ik-oii a veritable Cinderella with the Tourist Deportment, and whether from influence or not. the district has not had that degree of patronage from the thousands of tourists passing through Now Zealand, which it .should have had. Just what forces are ojierating adversely is not quite clear—hut evidently there is some undercurrent, more or loss influential. AVcstland is a unique holiday resort, for it is a natural wonderland a-nd ns a toulist resort crammed with delightful features is unexcelled. Actually i( should he the first place of interest for the glohe trotter, but it lias been relegated to the background always. Nowadays with railway communication it should he the duty of the Tourist Department t» make the Coast more widely known than ever. The increased passenger fares will he all to the. profit of the Government, and while helping to make the railway pay. the Department would he sending the travellers to a district where they could have an enjoyable time in most pleasing surroundings.