The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1927. PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1927. PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS.

Tjie session has been remarkable tor the activites of the Labour Opposition rather than the zeal of the Government to press forward its legislative programme. r J he Labour party has certainly been very talkative, mainly with the result of wasting its eloquence on a desert air, for the Government has pursued its own leisurely way in its own time. The Government party has not been responsible lor much in the way of retort. Ministers have defended their administration, hut [party followers have been silent invariably. Yet, despite the absence of' loquacity on the part of Government followers, the session is drawing out to an undue length, and there is not any immediate sign of the end. It would appear that the flood of talk from the Labour party on every possible occasion, is responsible for delaying progress. Although the Estimates have been disposed of, there is still a good way to go before the session ends, and there is still a considerable’amount of contentious matter to dispose of. The Arbitration Amendment Bill has raised a storm of opposition, and it will not he surprising if it is not dropped and reappear next session in a remodelled guise. The investigations now proceeding hv the special Parliamentary Committee will suggest various alterations which the Government will he wise to give consideration to during the recess. And the petrol tax will lie provocative of a strong debate when finally submitted to the House in the form of a statutory measure; but the principle will remain, though there might possibly lie some reduction in the incidence. If the report oT the Samoan Commission is available in time. Parliament is sure to debate the general situation very critically. The matters in dispute concern more than the Dominion and the Samoans, as New Zealand is working under delegated powers. In view of what has gone before, it would appear wise for the report to he presented before the House rises so that there .will be some independent pronouncement to the world at large on the general conditions prevailing in Samoa. The Gaming Bill appears to have run its course without gaining the winning post. The Government has again toyed with the position without any genuine attempt to help the smaller clubs. There is, however, time to do so yet in the Finance Bill still to come down, and the appearance of the measure will be awaited with some anxiety by those responsible .for the conduct of the smaller racing and trotting clubs, so many of which are in serious financial difficulties. Tho Licensing Bill has conic down, and will not he treated as a party measure. There will he a strong and long debate provoked on the question of the two issue ballot paper, against which there is tho setoff of the majority, as well as an extended term. The Government has evidently attempted a compromise on the matter, and the House may ho disposed to adopt it as a means to remove a very vexed question from the floor of the House at least for a time. But the revision of the policy is sure to be criticised very closely. With these and other matters still to come up for discussion it would appear the session will run for some time—probably towards the end of the month. Reverting to onr opening sentence it is at least clear that the loquacity of the Labour party as a whole has resulted fn the Government lieing eloselv criticised, and as the official Onnosition. Labour has functioned within its rights. There have been occasions when the value and motive of its criticism have been doubtful, hut it has at least attempted to play its part as a live Opposition in the political game.

I'jie Gaming Bill met with the eusi-i.. ary opposition from a certain quarter, and would appear although it passed the second reading, will noa bo dropped, in the course of the debate tile soundest reasons lor the dropping of the measure were given by bn Joseph Ward, who said tout in Ins opinion no Act put upon the Staluie Hook by the Government of the day should be. repealed by a ltill introduced by a private member. to da as was now being done looked to liim like an escape from duty on the part oi the Government. Ihe law as il stood today was the result of tjie unanimous feeding of Parliament, both Government and Opposition, in 19j7. That feeling grew out of ten years of agitation against excessive gambling, winch was leading scores ol young people astray, and lie could not see his way to go hack on that legislation, remembering the reasons which were behind it when facilities for .gambling were much greater than they were now. He believed in the totalisator as lieing the fairest way to bet. lie believed that racing in New Zealand was well conducted, but lie did not belie'.e in this Rill. The attitude taken up by the ex-Preniior was a very fair one, and it emphasised once again how the Government had shirked its duty m matter. Over and over again in response to deputations irom the racing authorities, members ol the Government have agreed to three simpie requests contained in Sir George limiter’s Bill, a measure which was brought forward by a private member practically at the instigtion of the Government. All that the Rill proposes to enact. is the publication ol dividends, the right to telegraph money for investment on the totalisator. and the opening of doubles on the totalisator Dividends are readily ascertained now by all who care to enquire. hut the information is not for publication ! According to all accounts many risk using the wires lor their betting telegrams to bookmakers, and the latter do regular double betting business. It is difficult to understand why all this should he driven underground when State supervised machines operate in the open, but under stupid restrictions which deprive the Government and the Clubs of much.revenue which is reaped hv these operating illegally. Now that the Bill is again pigeon-holed indefinitely, probably the. authorities will wake lip and see that the abuse of- the Gnmimr Act is not an hourly practice all over the Dominion. The authorities have been zealously oil the track of those conducting benefit raffles, hut the big game has had a lucky escape. Probably the second reading of the debate on the Bill in the House will go some wav to place the authorities more actively on the alert regarding major breaches of the Gaming Act.