WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1927, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. RAIN ANIJ ROYALTY. (Special to “ Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, June 23. Rain seems always to pay homage to the representative of royalty on the opening of the New Zealand Parliament. .This morning it fell in torrents at the l'eet of the Governor-General, and held off in courtesy only to enable His Excellency to the accompaniment of a fog-muffled salute, to make his way from the vice-regal residence to the meeting place of the members of the Legislative Council. The route of the Governor-General’s progress was lined, more densely in some places than in others, by umbrellas and rain-coated crowds of loyal subjects of the Crown, including the usual detachment of Civil servants released for the occasion, and boys and girls freed from school to learn at first hand the might and majesty of the Empire. The gathering in the Parliament grounds was much the same as usual, every vantage spot giving a close view of the Government House party being crowded, those at a distance joining in the hearty acclamation as His Excellency alighted from his car and mounted the steps at the entrance of the great building. Ihc reading of the Speech, which contained as little as the public is let to know on such occasions, seemed a congenial task to Sir Charles Fergusson, and, needless to say. was admirably discharged.

SOME ITEMS. The Governor-General was set to tell the story of the visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to the Dominion and to conclude with a justified expression of confidence that the gracious hearing of the Duke and Duchess would still further strengthen the ties which bind the citizens of the Dominion to the Motherland. The Imperial Conference and the Prime Minister also were given the precedence and prominence they deserved. In this connection perhaps the allusion to Mr Coates’s visit to the resting-places of thi' Dominion’s honoured dead will make the closest appeal to the public. “At the conclusion of the meeting of the Imperial’ Conference,” His Excellency said, “my Prime .Minister visited the graves of our soldiers in Franco and Belgium. He was deeply impressed by the care and attention which have been exercised by the Imperial War Graves Commission in carrying out the work entrusted to their charge.” This will convey more comfort to many a stricken heart in the Dominion than would the mention of the achievements of many a statesman. The services of the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell at the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva as the representative of the Dominion well deserved His Excellency’s appreciative mention.

RIGID ECONOMY. Coming down to the bread-and-butter features of the Speech. His Excellency, addressing himself specialty to “Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives ” was made to emphasise the recognised need for the practice of immediate and far-reaching economy in public expenditure. “The result of the financial year ended on March 31 last,” he said for Ministers, opening with bis foot on the soft pedal, “ is very satisfactory, especially so in view of the uncertainty of the financial position during the period. The surplus of revenue over expenditure amounted to £587,000. Part of this surplus has been utilised to reduce public debt, and the balance carried forward to meet any extraordinary demands that may arise during the present year. My Ministers are of opinion that in view of the general and financial outlook for the current year rigid economy must bo maintained. I'o this end my .Ministers have again arranged /or a special committee to scrutinise carefully the estimates and report as to the measures to be taken to ensure economy and strict control of expenditure.” For all this the country lias been prepared, and for once it takes the Government’s “ rigid economy ” at its face value. MEMBERS’ VIEWS.

At the time of writing—half an hour after the delivery of tho Speech—lew members of the House are prepared to express any very definite opinion concerning its contents. It is generally recognised that strict and searching economy is absolutely necessary and that party differences, if necessary, must be restrained towards this end/ But many members, as it always the ease, know of expenditure which in itself is real economy, and which should not be discontinued nor withheld simply because the money market is “ tight,” or because the Government in the past has “ over-run ” the constable. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, tho Minister of Finance, could not be expected at this stage to discuss the subject in any detail, but he lias been emphasising the need for economy alf through the recess, and he is not likely to modify his view of the position to placate even the most insistent member of his own party. The members of the Labour Party, who in their hearts have a genuine regard for Mr Stewart and his administration, will not submit complacently to a period of retrenchment. but they will find economy a very real necessity.