The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1925 PARLIAMENT RISES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1925 PARLIAMENT RISES.

Paiu.iamknt has risen after a session of not very great importance, insofar as the legislation passed implied. !t was the final session of an expiring Parliament. and the eve of a general electien is never very prolific in legislation. On this occasion the session was remarkable because of the new leader of the House. The regrettable passing of Mr .Massey called for tt successor, and the choice fell on the Hon (!. Coates, who had crowded service to his credit as Minister in Charge of Public Works. Hail ways and Postmaster-General. Next to Mr M tissey, Mr Coates was the busiest Minister, but his choice as leader was not chiefly on that aeeoiml. Other tnemlrers of the party had credentials in their favor which were excuse enough to supersede Mr Coates as leader were other things eipnd. Mr Coates, however, won out largely on the merits of the ease. Mr Coates lias tilled the position, perhaps, letter than was expected. He admitted himself at the outset that lie was without the experience necessary for so high an office, and there were occasions when this was noticeable. Mr Coates has a frankness and geniality which stands him in good stead, and these (pialities carry him far. A leader, such as Air Massey, would he missed greatly, and his place difficult to fill. On the "hole. Mr Coates has done well, sticking to his post. and certainv playing the game. His leadership in the llon-e has been satisfactory and the session has ended with the honors of the occasion in his favor. Mr Coates will go to the country as the leader of a party, and with a policy which he will he expected to discharge if returned to power. With the general public he is the tyjre of leader most acceptable in all the circumstances, and he stands a good chance of being returned to power with a following pledged to support him in office. Of the late session, it can he said that as usual, there was the customary experience of rush legislation at the last moment. The full details of it are not available yet, and it is possible that mane of those responsible for the passing oT

the laws did not appreciate all that the provisions implied there was so little time for detailed consideration. The Government has provided for a large expenditure and took the usual course of arranging for ways and means with borrowed money. The reform of the finances is the chief call now. .as at all times, and while it is rccognised in the present plight ol the country to cease borrowing is not fritctieahlc, a tapering off policy is most essential. The readiness with which the Government has been rushing to the money market for ways and means, has created an extravagance in public expenditure which has neither been a good example nor an economic course to pursue. Tiling up loans on which large interest payments have to he made reduces the local resources of t'--country unduly, and the means to selfhelp are being cut off. "Reasonable economy. il not retrenchment, is the real task the incoming Tarliamenl should face to improve the financial status of the Dominion. With respect to the expiring Parliament it is wo i recalling that over the three years of its existence it has been directed by n party which was elected and put into office and kept there without a working majority. Vie hear a lot about fusion nowadays, but Reform was kept in office these past three years by a measure of fusion- help from Liberals wbo stood by tbe Government in thick and thin to avoid the eontingonev of a possible victory for I.abor in any appeal to tbe people, following a defeat in tbe House. In tin l coming elections the outlook for Labor is not as hopeful as in former times. The dislocation of trade hy strikes, and tlie unreasonable attitude of organised .Labor, of which the Parliamentary party is the effective spokesmen, discounts the | respects ahead. Ihe Parliamentary Labor Party has not attempted. in this country or Australia, to heal the breach. In Australia (Inactions have been very much the other wav. In New Zealand the parliamentarians have been distinctly silent maintaining a silence which could he felt. The people, as a whole are now realising the trend of the Labor Policy. Its bent is invariably destructive, and at the momet we see how the verv commerce of the country is being stilted. The attitude of I.abor is full nf inconsistencies, and its choice as a possible solution for the political ills we are heir to. grow more and more remote. It is time there was an awakening. and the tael that there is. is becoming obvious m many wavs. Politically. therefore we may look to the future with a good deal of hope lor the mainleiiaiii e ol sound and sane Government in New Zealand, and the Labour Party safely kepi in the cool shades of nppnsit ion .