The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1927. THE RECORD SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1927. THE RECORD SESSION.

Till: session A\' 1 1 it'll t lust'd this week is heiiijr ok tolled us the record session lor length, Fnl'ortunately the chroiiioic oi' its doings discloses on the "hole length without breadth. There was •supposed to he so iiiueli to do at the outset, that llie session was looked upon as one of great promise. Hut the legislators adopted such an easy gait, combined with the hindering loquacity of a section of the House, that the sum of business done is being commented mi generally as disappointing. Ihe Government has lost caste and certain|v cohesion. as an outcome of the session. The Raglan seat was also a material loss during the session, hut the chief cause for alarm on the Government side were the open admissions hv Reform followers that the puny was not attaining its ends nor carrying out its policy. Several prominent Reform members became very critical and oven combative in regaid to the Prime minister’s doings and sayings There was a sad exhibition of the lack of party discipline in the later stages of the session when even im’sl-erial measures were sadly mutilated by the House, while the strange

exhibition over licensing matters "liieh found ministers in open disagreement, seemed to suggest that the party foundations were rocking. Further color to this view; was given by the rise of the mysterious new party being organised- -by a gentleman hitherto :m organiser of the Reform party itself. Tlie course of the session there, fore suggested rather palpably that all

was not well with the dominant political party and that there is occasion for some searching of the political soul to had out exactly what may he wrong with ihe Government side of the House, [is future depends greatly on the result of the examining search. .As to the business done, increased taxation is the outstanding result. The revision of the customs generally will mean more revenue, with the possibility of a further impost next session. Kxtrn income will he derived also from the petrol tax. and though the money is eor-markad its expenditure in that direction will save expenditure from sources hitherto tapped for the purpose. The petrol tax is therefore an extra tax, as the Minister plainly described it Although there were a large number of hills put through, many details were left over for administration bv regulation. Measures were incomplete regarding machinery clauses and these will come later per medium of regulations. It seems strange with the pronounced majority the Government enjoys and the time available for preparation and enactment, a more impressive reeord of work done was not achieved. The leadership is being blamed in many quarters. Even the Government organs and supporters are reflecting in that direction, but it is also apparent that- the Government attempted socialistic legislation which

aroused opposition within its own party and created a chilly atmosphere. which has never warmed since. The personnel of the Ministry is not a strong one. and the leader has had to undertake a large amount of even the spade work. The weakness of the Ministry regarding finance threw the whole obligations of the Government policy on one man and the repute of the party suffered accordingly. Altogether the Government passed through a trying period, hut it is still possible for the party to retrieve itself next session The absence of an outstanding leader even with the new rartv. is an advantage to the Government, and this will become more manifest as time advances unless a new political aspirant

is brought to light by those who are dissatisfied with the present leader.