The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1929. THE SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1929. THE SESSION.

Before ' the end of the month, the New Zealand Parliament will he in session. A Wellington correspondent says that the chief interest in the session is not the legislative programme so much as the unique position of the Government. under Sir Joseph Ward’s leadership. Holding office on a vote of the House which displaced the Coates Government by a margin of ten (which would have been eleven had all members been present), Sir Joseph is not able to command sufficient party allegiance to carry any party programme against all other sections of the House. Yet, so unusual is the political .position that the most «;> specie need pari ia men taria ns agree that the Government could, with care, carry on till the end of the usual triennial term, obtaining a hind of “candid friend” support from opposing elements, among whom there Is some anxiety over the confident attitude of the Prime Minister that, if the composite collection of members hampers him in carrying out the pro-

gramme on which he was elected with a following slightly larger than;any other party in Parliament, lie wiii appeal again to the people “when,” to use Sir Joseph’s own phrase, “the opponents will he annihilated.” Whatever his public attitude may be, the average member, in his own mind, prefers to make the best of a difficult party position, and not provoke the Prime Minister too far. However, that delicate balancing pf the critical privilege, which must not go too far, is what makes members view the session with mingled interest and anxiety. An important factor in favour of the Government is the impossibility of the Opposition elements—which could muster 47, representing a "majority of Par-liament-agreeing on I important questions of policy. On almost any big question the Government would probably get a backing from one side or the other, while in the background will always be the confident opinion of the Prime Minister regarding the result of another appeal to the country. Uncertainty regarding the position of the Government may, however, be eventually removed by a re-align-ment of members, for it requires but a small number to announce themselves in favour of the main lines of policy to enable the Government to proceed with confidence. This is one of the possible developments to be expected as the session proceeds. It will be well on in the session, considers the correspondent before the Land and Income Tax Bill is introduced, containing the most significant items in a small legislative programme. Preceded by the Budget, this measure will no doubt contain the most interesting items of policy so far undisclosed. ’'The Prime Minister and his colleagues will be giving attention to questions of finance and taxation for the next three months, and when income tax returns have been received, and the probable yield assessed, the Government will be in a good position to frame its proposals. There is a growing feeling that the land tax schedule will be changed in the direction of imposing higher rates in the upper portions of the scale, so as to induce further sub-division of large holdings. To further facilitate small settlement, the Minister of Lands will/ require legislation from Parliament, the lines ol which are now under consideration. As the mainspring of land settlement is finance, the real extent of the Government’s activity will he better realised when the Prime Minister announces his financial programme. Further authorisations of hew railways will be needed, as existing authorities do not cover the routes of the connecting links of main trunk lines. This will give rise to important debates on the new public works policy ol the Government. Another policy decision, though actually announced, cannot, come into operation until authorised bv Parliament, this being the establishment of a senarale Main Highways Board for the South Island. Departmental machinery lias already been devised for this important change, but. the statutory powers existing do not

contemplate any separation of functions, therefore Parliament itself will have to cut the knot. Altogether the session promises to he one of the most interesting in the annals of colonial polities, for the House as a whole must recognise the wonderful popularity Sir Joseph Ward is achieving wherever he goes, and in that regard Lite House certainly has a very strong and popular leader.