The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1931. POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1931. POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

Pap.iM,v.mknt is to assemble now in a little less than a fortnight, and the emergency session promises to be pregnant with important possibilities. The special subject ior discussion will bo the Prime Ministers economy statement. which seems to traverse the whole gamut of practical politics, and in the consideration and discussion ot the proposed policy, all things are possible, it appears to be inevitable that there will be a realignment of parties in the House. Labour lias been a sheet anchor for the United Covenunent hitherto in times of political stress The unwritten alliance, it would appear, is about to be torn up. There can be no false ideas about the Labour leaders opinions regarding wages. They will have no cutting down. They are as dogmatic about that as their con fores in Australia who are maintaining wages at the peril ol' the country’s financial honour.

Labour opinion was not slow to hint that the Covcrnnient bad gone over and accepted the declared polity of the Reform party as to the future administration of the country. It would appear, therefore, that in critical divisions, the Government will require to look to the official Opposition for support to carry through the avowed policy. There are expectations in some quarters that this forced alliance "ill lead to fusion, hut it is doubtful if the intimacy will go that far. The co-operation of the two parties in Parliament is certainly necessary at this juncture, and if that be effected there might be a reign ol politieial pence during which a National Government could be set up to negotiate the financial troubles facing the country. Although Mr Forbes’ review of the situation was a full one, it did not tell the whole story. There were still two months of the financial year to be taken into account with a steadily declining revenue, and evidently an increasing public expenditure due to unompiovmont and earthquake outgoings. But hv the time Parliament meets, probably the report of the Ngnta Com* mission will he known. That was an enquiry by selected Ministers and heads of Departments into details of the nublic administration, and there are sure to be revelations from that qnar*C'\ That l:Wng >so, the .situation will call for action and that can best, he done by the united good will of Parliament expressed through a National Ministry. Such an adjustment may call for delicate nartv handling, hut th<> national position is so serious Unit there is the call for the highest sacrifice of personal ambitions to assist the Dominion through the present financial crisis. A huge sum of money must he provided for the rehabilitation of tlie TTawkos Bnv territory where thousands of people are ruined and at the moment have a hopeless outlook. This task is not the cl 11 tv of any party, hut of till the political parties in the House. Folk of all shades of political opinion and in localities which have sent diverse political representatives to Parliament are involved in the disaster, and it is for the co-operation of all parties, therefore, to unite and tackle the great task before the country. It is work for a National Ministry essentially, and the sooner the general situation is clarified in respect to tlie possible political action, tbe better for all concerned and for the future of Now Zealand. It would appear that for a period at least, the country would do well to drop party-politics and strive bv unity and sanity to so co-operate that the welfare of the country as a whole will he the first consideration of the political leaders, and that when Parliament assembles that will be tbe first and main object of this all important special session.