The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1930. THE SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1930. THE SESSION.

The session opens to-morrow with the usual formalities. The speech of the Governor-General will give in very bare miij.no the main business proposed for .me session and will in due course be

debated, The coming period is the policy session of the present Parliament,, and will be more so on tins occasion because it will be the test of tup reorganised Ai-innstry under the new Prime Minis Lei, The occasion is fraught with many possibilities, and it is regarded as likely to be one of r,lie most interesting ses*sotis that

nave taken place in recent years. On assuming office Mr Forbes earned the plaudits of most people by bis bold •declaration of >tlie situat/on Its lie found it, and m the intervul having stuck closely to 11 is desk, it will be 0. interest to see how ho is going to time the (I illicit I ties which are presented Mr Forties will probably meet Parliament as frankly as he addressed i.lie public, in wnioh ease the House will drop quickly into serious business. 'The Prime Minister has an idea of leaving as early as he can (if progress in Parliament permits) for the imperial Conference, There is, however, some doubt if the mission will he possible actually, arid Sir Thomas Sidey, Attorney-General, and Sir Thomas W)l----lord, High Commissioner, have been mentioned as the probable representa hives at the London Conference which promises to be of special and peculiar interest in view of the world tariff war now opening up ft does seem of importance that the Dominion should he represented directly by its Prime Minister and not his deputies, To enable this to he done, Mr Forbes has to make goud at the opening of tho session to secure urn confidence of the House for the remaining period of the session which he would require to miss. In preparation for eventualities tins Prime Minister promises to have policy hills brought down early, also departmental reports, and L|ie Budget to lit the scheme, must also he prod new 1 I in 1 lie early stages, The Government's | financial proposals nre o| tlu* utmost importance, because the Minister 01 | Finance (who is also the Prime Min- | ister) has to budget to meet a. deficit; under the existing volume of income. 1 'I here is almost sure to be a readjust- , moot o| taxation with an upward ten- | deucy, as well ns a general curtail- . incut of expenditure Del (ills on these aspects will be awaited with gieat keenness, Increased taxation i- s ported under customs duties, anil \. ill touch probably luxuries in particular. The petrol lax will also he iuci.-asod somewhat, mainly with the object oi helping the reading, The farmers are asking lor the removal of the hlid mix, including specially the super lax. This will he a very debatable issue , fnom different standpoints, and the l Govorumeiit'fi action, whichever way It goes, will lie canvassed very closely. When it is recalled that the Min- , istry Ims not a clear majority behind j

it, the general prospects for the session become more engrossing. Reform as the official Opposition, it is said, will take an early opportunity of moving a vpte of no-confidence ip the Government, In the circumstances this does not appear a, tactical move, and will probably lie doomed to failure. 'The Government to secure fbe passage of iis main planks, must rely on the support of Labour, and that is likely to he available. The Government has committed itself to certain Labour legislation, and it will be Unpolicy of the party espousing the cause of Labour to support the measures. The Liberal legislation was invariably pro-Labour, and further steps along the same lilies will justify the Labour party maintaining tile Government in office. Along these lines Labour as a party will refrain from hostile action

to defeat the new Ministry. Actually although on the eve of the session there are not the usual alarms and oxcurs.oi’s presaging a difficult or upsetting period. A little time ago there was marked activity among tint party organisations preparing for possibilities, but those evidences of early action have died down, and there is thus tiie prospect of the session proceeding according to the/.pace the Government sets. Mr -Eorbes is sure to be circumspect, for lie has experience gained over a long Parliamentary career, and already ho has given clear evidence of his ability to lead. His manner and methods • will be different tram bis predecessors, bait lie will be none the less sure. .