The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1927. PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1927. PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

Parliament resumes to-day and is to settle down to serious business. An Imprest Bill will afford an opportunity for an all round discussion, and no doubt some pent up steam will be. let off'. The present is bein'! regarded as a special working session. There will be special demands on the Prime Minister who has the opportunity of making good. Tt will be the testing time, as it were, because last year there were limitations due to his forced departure for the Imperial Conference. But that jaunt was a period of good experience for Mr Coates, who comported himself very creditably among his seniors. The Prime Minister has improved with the experience, and he is displaying signs of sensible leadership in his handling of difficult deputations. As the leader of the House, he has a special responsibility, and bis task will not be a light one in any respect. The sessional programme must necessarily be a heavy one, due to the condition of things throughout the country. TJn-' employment is a very serious issue throughout New Zealand. It is not sufficient to meet it with an attempt at relief works. A permanent cure is what should be aimed at. So far there is nothing to indicate that it will l>e forthcoming, but for the sake of prosperity within the Dominion, it is to he hoped the Government has some de finite policy to surmount the present difficulties besetting all parts of the country. Much is heard of the farmers’ plight too. Now that “control” has been discarded the position is more hopeful, hut on top of poor prices the aftermath of the land boom is still being experienced, and a very 'difficult set of circumstances exists. The farmers are looking for all the he’p an ’

relief they can get. and many oil poor lands are having a seiious struggle indeed. A Government land policy is n |: ,q necessary, and something more

practical than is being done, is required in the way of ready rural finance as a direct aid to the man on the land. The revision of tho tariff is to ho undertaken. Much information has hcen gleaned on which to base the recasting. hut. the passage of the details through the House will not lie a simple matter, as so many conflicting interests have to be taken into account. Besides, tho Government will be looking for more revenue from fhe Customs to ease up taxation in other oppressive directions, and this ready in-

strument is not of easy accomplishment, A reduction of the total taxation hardly can be passible with the Government so reailv to borrow at every opportunity. Bather in tho recasting of the general taxation proposals will there be a disposition to in-crea-e the t <>t si 1 receipts of the Dominion. Motor taxation is to lie reviewed. a subject which is sure to open a Hood of talk as to other aspects, inmltiding CDinpetitic'n with the railways and the tramways. The policy of the country regarding immigration will be reviewed with some heat if we are not mistaken, and affairs arising just now in Samoa will ho the subject of serious debate. Then, those hardy annuals, licensing and farming legislation, in regard to which something lias been promised, must entail lengthy debates. ft is clear that apart from tho time occasioned by the lio-coiifidenee motion Mr Holland is to move following the opening of the debate on the Addross-in-Hoply, there is opportunity enough for ail extra flood of talk this session. Tt can he well recognised ill all the circumstaiucs, that this will, indeed, be a working .session, and there will be ample opportunity for Hie Prime Minister to display his paces in leadership. 'l’lie country will look to Mr Coates to make good and it will he a happy issue for the country indeed, if he succeeds in that direction.