The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1930. PLAYING, FOR SAFETY.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1930. PLAYING, FOR SAFETY.

Parliament closed last week in a very quiet manner. The session had extended rather longer than expected because of the easy rein kept by the Acting Prime Minister, who lacking a party majority to force business, had to co-operate with one or other, of the parties from time to time ru push business through. Mr Ransom was an even tempered leader, and lie played for safety in the absence of his chief who was able to become well established in London before the session closed. The session extended for upwards of eighteen weeks, and a very substantial volume of statutes is the result. In the session the Government received the general support of the Labour Party though in the dying hours harsh words were heard from the Labour benches regarding an alleged .breach of a .promise by the Minister for Labour in respect to an amendment to the arbitration law. 'On the wholei it must Ibe considered a very interesting session. There was a minority Government in power—a new ministry with a new Prime Minister following the late Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Forbes had to win his spurs, but despite the greatness thrust upon him, and the added responsibilities of attending the 'lmperial Conference, Mr Forbes was albie to depart, and leave matters safely in train under the capable leadership of Mr Ransom. The outstanding merit of Mr Forbes was the courageous way in which he faced the people with a frank review of the position as he found it. He explained his policy to meet the position clearly and the rut nation was accepted in a. very sensible way In the public at large, 'Hie parties in the House arc so divided that none may rule absolutely, but each was prepared to do its part to assist the Government through a difficult period. And on the whole, all co-oper-ated very sensibly. As the Christchurch Times has put it, the Prime Minister’s policy measures, aimed mainly at financial stability, were thus assured in advance of at least reasonable support, and his tact and skill combined to strengthen his position, a fact clearly proved when the United Party held the Invercargill seat on. the (La.tlt of Sir Joseph Ward and gained the Waipawa seat from the Opposition in one of the hardest election battles of the decade. The departure of' the Prime Minister for the Imperial Conference took the party Sting out of Parliament to a great extent, though once or twice the

stronger feelings of ’Reform or Labour loiiml utterance, and the position, to all intents and purposes, is where Mr Forbes left it. As it. happens, however, party politics are rather at a discount because the outstanding issmit are virtually all concerned with the economic, conditions of the Dominion, and there is not a great deal of room for the discussion of academic principles. We have to- look to ’ the Government to guide us wisely through a period of low prices and declining revenue, and with the shadow of the Commonwealth’s economic crisis darkening the outlook we shall need careful guidance. Doubtless because of the uncertainty Parliament lugs deliberately 7 postponed a decision on some important issues, and the Acting-Leader of the House hinted that a short session might have to be held early in the year to settle one or more of these matters. The meaning of this hint, plainly, is that it may bo found necessary to adopt further economies before the commeneement of another financial year.