The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1915. PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 233, 25 June 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1915. PARLIAMENT.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post una ‘Wa.imarino News.)

Another New Zealand Parliament has met, and although we were promised by the party In power, from the hustings, that the people were to be taken into their confidence if the reins of government , were trusted to their handling; that daylight would be let through everything pertaining to their administration and procedure, the people are just about as conversant with what the programme of the present session- is, as if they lived in the uttermost wilds of Kamschatka. Legislative proposals are to be flashed upon the minds of the people with less warning than that which precedes the playing of a Rotorua geyser. We are passing through the most momentous time in the Empire’s history; we are faced with domestic and political problems of unparalleled importance; the Dominion’s immediate financial needs are such that the cleverest men would approach. with some trepidation and canton, to say nothing of other accentuated difficulties that have arisen as an outcome of the war. And yet not the slightest indication has leaked out concerning the Government’s intentions. The Governor’s speech is to convey to us the mysteries of forthcoming political procedure. This secrecy is neither, wise or just for it is well-known that extra taxation of a character and magnitude probably unprecedented must to some extent provide many contentious aspects. Borrowing will furnish another subject about which, there must be opposing views, and were these two the only questions of such pressing importance, there is ample room for prolonged discussion. For the Government to expect an Opposition as powerful as itself to sit quiet while such matters are disposed of on the mere pretest of war conditions, would be too ■absurd. The handling of finance at such a time moans more to the country than is at first sight apparent or realised. The enormous needs to . foe provided for may, while our vision is somewhat dimmed by unprecedented prices for outproduces, land the Do-, jninion’ai financial future.,,ft**;.. dangerous.■ Vpaicrksa nds if usual keenness ■ of i nation is' rfcisaftd. '' r/sKTsaiius th 9 highly eotitcnti ouy iia-

ture of questions to be dealt with that we are forced to relinquish prejudices against coalitions and advocate a sharing of responsibility and initiative between leaders of both sides of the House. It is exceedingly improbable, if it is not impossible, that ruts and holes with such portentious characteristics can be negotiated without friction. Any effort by the Government to drive as it did last session would invoke a controversy that would be unwise and unseemly considering the circumstances. A short session has been half promised; it is a short session only that is needed, or that the country wants, because there are other issues of paramount importance/that would become difficult, if not impossible, to successfully deal with while Parliament is sitting. The time of the Government will be largely taken up with new aspects of the war; this fact with nothing more than above referred to makes it distinctly advisable that all parties should agree upon a form of National Government. It may be, of course, leaders have already discussed this question. We cannot conceive of any why this should not come about, but there are important reasons why it should. The programme before Parliament is one that cannot be advantageously performed by one party, if the universally desired short, harmonious session is to eventuate. The business is of a national character such as our Parliament has never before had forced upon it. Therefore, it is scarcely' the right of any party to assume entire dominance and control. If the Government does not come down from the ’pedestal of domination it indiscreetly perched- itself upon last session there is undoubtedly a thorny path ahead for it and the whole House.