The Guardian Anil Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 25th, 1924. PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian Anil Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 25th, 1924. PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS.

Ai.Tiiovr.ii Parliament has been sitting now for some three months the business done is very disappointing alike in quality a.s quantity. There has been an extended round of talk, but the legislative action has been very skimpy. Parliament will probably have five or six weeks to run, and if the session is to redeem itself hy some good work, the House in. particular will require to beiome busy. The pate iY-r the Upper House is set hy the bower House, with the result that the members of the former have had a. number of holidays fcreed upon them. Under the patty system a.s now in vogue, the value of the revising ('handier has diminished greatly, nnd much more experience of Ijhe present nature would convince* the publjo that the cost of running a legislative Council might lie eliininnt-

rd. Its economical value is not apjiarent. On the contrary, as the government of the eonnliy is conducted at present, with the Second Chamber merely an echo of the Miirstry in power the eeiidu: t of the Upper House from a practical point of view heroine.s an economic waste, t'nder | resent c onditions it will i.ot be snr| rising if the more radical | arties at the next general election make tile abolition of tin- I'pjier House a.s at p csciil fottMilnleil. a foremost plank in the policy to be put beline the country. If a revising chamher is considered necessary then some other form c l' constitution could he deviced to supply the rei|iiirenient both more c hea; ly and »e should hope more ell'e-tively. Harking back to the •ics.don, there is the legislative prcgiamme for tlie immediate future to he considered, lately Air .Massey announced there acre some impertani matters to he announced, hot this a; rears to relate to the ready money loan | invicle.l by the Bank of New / calami. Mr Massey's time seems to he taken up , hi.'tly in manipulating [lie tmame to tide over pre-sing times. I here is licit lung panic ula ly consti netive in his policy of liman, e to stand the test of time in ie.grrd to stable finance. On this is-ue alone the Cc.vc’l iiinent stands . oinlcmiccal as etl'ele. and it t\ ill he in till' least ini: I'c -Is of

the count ry when Miinc.nie else is 1 hned in charge c.f the liiianves. We know how Sir doseph Ward rescued the Dominion from a financial morass during the time cel the Coalition Ministry and the safe and sound position in "Ill'll he led t the fmcuicv. But Iteform soon made ducks and drakes of the finances, and it was not- long hefneo the nest egg of reserves was gene, and att'O lh.it the* h":,t (lie hoc rllltlll'llf can clo i- to ,oi tin rocc iug ami h.rIC 'lug. -\s die. "losing 1 lie neakue-s of the tinaneial policy of the (.'ovcriuNcnf., there wcc.s the empty c harm ter of the financial statement itself— C|i.iie a bedel review c f the position villa.lit oust illative matter to govern the future, 'file linaine of the country is treated piecemeal, as Opportunity prompts. ’I here is nothing concrete. Last week there was a remission of taxation. The following week there is more borrowing exceeding the .sum to le remit ted 1 As regards legislative proposals, they are ec|iially perplexing. Much is ) romi-ed, lilt!.' clone; yet there is so much to clo if the Ministry were I : attempt all that had been promised, ami much that might he done. file arpiulitics of the parties are blamed for the non-perfor.ni-nnce of a definite poll-y. If this he so matters must remain in abeyance till next general election. Snell delay will not he egood for the country. But the pnrlinmciitnricms bedding in to office at anv cost ale not (oueelTied about that. '