The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1931. THE SPECIAL SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1931. THE SPECIAL SESSION.

I hi-: special session of Parliament is non- urawing to a close. It was an unusual circumsauce for a special ses- , sioii to be held, but the business to be done called lor urgent attention. The Prime Minister mi ins rcOurii J'rom the Imperial Coni crenci*, found the finances in a difficult position with a serious drift going on. Air Forbes was quite right to let the people know the condition of affairs, and lose as little time as possible in calling Parliament together to prepare for eventualities. Unfortunately the bad earthquake in the North Island canto, along, adding to the burden of the Government's immediate responsibilities, and even delaying the contemplated session, in regard to the earliquake visitation, as in other important public matters, the Government proceeded to do the right thing, Without delay or hesitation, Mr Forbes find-his colleagues plunged into the work of assisting to right the situation, In a very brief time pjneM(fully every member of the Cabinet visited the stricken area, ant] ail cooperated in assisting where it was possible, On the meeting of Parliament, Mr l'orbes had a tale to tell which was jar Iroin cheerful, and the - upshot, was the presentation of two Finance Bills proposing to deal with the situation as considered host. These I two measures, with the Railway Bill, j removing the railways from Ministerial ! control, constituted the main business ol the session. Tin* measures created a j new alignment, of parties, [n times past, Labour had shown a disposition to help the Government and maintain it in power, in preference to voting out the l nitixl party, that Reform may re- i turn to no Treasury benches. But the i Government proposals involving a I wages cut in the Civil Service; the curtailment ol social services, and j other inroads on the public policy to save money, did not pi ea.se Labour, and the party went into direct oppos- | ition. But the revised policy of the Government appeared generally to please the Boform party, which gave its hacking to the measures, and in due course the bills have passed. Mr Forbes in closing the debate on the Finance Bill last week diplomatically ! thanked the House as a whole for i facing the situation; but any credit in | that direction appears to he due chiefly to Mr Forhos personally, for lie stood to his guns manfully and courageously. He was quite frank about the need for tlio economy measures distasteful though they might be, a^d 1 be held to Ids purpose and his policy which was accepted finally by Parliament. There yet remains the earthquake legislation, which already has been under the revis in nof a special Parliamentary Conn j mittee. Therein, tiro general proposals j of the measures as submitted by the Government, are being adopted, no that Mr Forbes’ leadership has brought j him much kudos. The man seems | to have been produced for the hour which had struck. Mr Forbes has per- j sonal qualities which help him greatly, j and his statesmanship* is of the homely , Variety perhaps, biut it sinks the times. New Zealand has to meet a difficult time, and it. can be overcome only in a very practical way. When an individual is in difficulties lie must take stock and overhaul his expenditure, and set about balancing bis ac. counts. That was the task Air Forbes set about for the benefit of the nation, and lie has gone about it methodically and not without courage. His work , speaks for itself, and what lie lias accomplished we trust will lie all for the better of New Zealand.