The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times Monday, September 21, 1931. A COALITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times Monday, September 21, 1931. A COALITION.

The statement made by the Hon. Geo. Forbes on Friday afternoon in the House of Representatives that the Government and Reform Party had resolved to form a Coalition Government, brought to a definite conclusion the protracted sittings of the Economic Committee. The Leader of the Labour Party at once disassociated himself and his party from the proposed arrangement, the details of which! are promised to be given by the Prime Minister on Tuesday evening. The investigations of the Economic Committee have brought the views of the Opposition leaders and the national sequence has been the decision to form a Coalition Government. This is, of course, comments the Christchurch “Times,” the development that the Prime Miniser has all along held to be inevitable. Mr Forbes has been perfectly frank oni the subject for months past. He was quite willing to shoulder the responsibility for economies and fresh taxation, but he has held that such a responsibility ought not to rest on the shoulders of a Government that did not command a majority in the House of Representatives. His personal opinion was that before the Government could proceed with its work it must have authority to proceed. He was quite willing to accept that authority from Parliament, but. failing an assured majority in Parliament lie would have to go to the country. The position to-day is precisely wliat it urns before the committee was appointed, with the difference that the Reformers are now preoared to accept their share of the' responsibility for the economy measures. The alternative was an immediate anneal to the country. We have no hesitation in saving that the Reform Party has chosen the wiser co-n- se in the interests of the country. It is necessary that- the legislation to give effect to the Budget propos'd* should be brought down without further delay and that the additional economies should be put in train forthwith. Tf Mr Forbes had been- influenced by party considerations lie would have gone to the country and the essential legislation would have been held up until after the new year, so that it oould not possibly have become effec-

tive in the present financial year. Gix months might easily have been wasted, and a delay of that length, indeed a delay of any length, must prove costly. As we view the position the present coalition is being formed for a specific: purpose—to balance the national Budget and to make the provision that is imperatively necessary for carrying on the business of the country. ’l'his task will delay the dissolution o: Parliament for soine little time—unless economic conditions improve, a

further potponement of the elections may be desirable—but we take it that the prolongation of the life of Parliament will mot be carried beyond tinperiod necessary to bring the Government’s policy iij t'j effective operation. We should have been glad to see the Labour Party associated with the Gov eminent, hut it has preferred to- remain in opposition and perhaps the country will benefit by having the proposals of the Government subjected, to searching criticism. That the development will be satisfactory to the great majority of the electors We do hot doubt, for the removal ot‘ any danger of political instability will enable the Dominion to face the p-oblems of the period with a single mind and strengthened confidence.