The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1929. THE SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1929. THE SESSION.

The Session has openeu not unpleasantly. the first session of a new ihiiilaineiijt, it can be looked upon' as a,tailung session, and the Labour members made* a. bid to by tne vary free discussion they passed cm .- tlie- .imprest isuppiy lull, tiie measure' always i)resen,tou at the first sitiing. to provide >tlie Legal authority lor tne Government ot the day io carry!) bn the nnam.es of tne country, it was notlceaoie during the progress of tife dgbate on thie Bill, that the'subject matter turned largely on unemployment. Ao uoul)t the Labour members are anxious •to pose as the saviours of the country iii regard to settling, this vexed question, but the remarks offered were more critical than constructive, and drew from Sir Joseph Ward a retort that as leader:, of the House he was not going to have the Government business interfered with by any side issue, hot relevant to the occasion. In other words, the Imprest Bill was a specific financial measure, and in the proper time and place 'unemployment couiu be discussed without delaying as it did at that juncture the regular business of the House;-: A somewhat like reproof was offered byHon Mr Wilford, who pointed out /Labour was marking time, but this is notf v an unusual practice for that party when seeking a cheap adventisement on matters political. It is of ifiterest to note Sir Joseph’s determined stand to have his way in .the conduct of the business. It; indfcfites' that he is decided to carrjf-'-hn-irrespective of the other parties. »?[liis is particularly interesting forvifn papier the political situation js unstable, but so far as ono'can judge it is improbable that the Government will ’be turned out by a combination ofc Reform and Labour. ’Quite, apart from the desire of members .to avoid another election, the House will .be disposed to respect, the country’s desire itliat the new Government should dbe given a chance. It lias been in office six months, and it lias, done well,’ but obviously it could not bring about'all the necessary reforms. in that time. Legislation is needed for the realisation of much of its programme, and even ’ one long session will not suffice for all that has' to be done. Sir Joseph Ward evidently feels lie has the confidence of ithe people with - him, and he is hot disposed to brook factious opposition .at this stage when formulating the political policy. As to the immediate future a “miniriuim of legislation” is foreshadowed. If tiiis means that only a few important Bills are to be introduced, and if they receive ffareful consideration from a , House keeping respectable hours, tne country will benefit. The, comoination of sheaves ot Biils and perfunctory consideration by a tired Housej-'cuhninatiiig in an end-of-session-rusb, has long been a scandal. Three or four outstanding tasks face the Government. The Budget has to be balanced, and already curtailment of Departmental expenditure is spoken of. Taxation has to be reviewed. Land settlement must be expedited. This is part .of the problem of unemployment, which. hangs over the country like a blajek )cloud. The contrast—to which pointed attention was drawn at the -Bank New Zealand meeting—between the amount ot money in the country and the lack of confidence among investors, throws light on conditions that must be removed or modified. It will be the businessvof the Government to help to restore confidence by stimulating, land settlement, giving '"reasonable encouragement to secondary industries; amt really putting l the Coates slogan of less government in business. Mr St all worthy, we observe; has spoken out clearly about the need for weakening the power of bureaucracy and restoring Parliamentary rights and popular liberties. ' All this is enough to seep the Government’s hands full for a long time. But there are also problems of transport- more important than any in our history. The Government’s railway policy has to be defined, and the relationship between* railways and motor transport faced in all its difficulties. In short, these are difficult times, afid what the country needs is co-operation: between' the three parties to promote the national : welfare. Manoeuvring for party advantage would be an offence, and the country would be quick to detect it and punish the offenders. Tins appears to be what Sir Joseph Ward, as leader, is building on, and.it seems evident now he will be given, something of a clear run this session to eneavour to'do those first things which are imperatively necessary for the welfore of u New Zealand. The session, may therefore be expected to run its course, as far as can be guaged at this juncture, for the Prime Minister has made it plain that there will be strength in his leadership, and with his known ability the House will show him the ; respect and appreciation the country is evidently prepared to give him.