The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1917. QUESTIONS FOR PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 June 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1917. QUESTIONS FOR PARLIAMENT.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Wairaarino News),

Parliament is almost on the eve of another session; before this week is out the machinery for broadcasting the words of wisdom, or otherwise, of our legislators, and especially those of Cabinet Ministers will be in full sway and operation. There are not wanting ominous signs of stormy scenes ahead of the National Government ,the people of this country were to expect so much from, in spite of the oft-repeated intended soporific that the session would be a short one, and that nothing but finance and questions arising out of the war would be dealt with. Are we to understand that our National Government has already foreseen that a pretended fusion of political incompatibles had proved a failure in so far as personal interest was concerned if in no other way, and that a general election must take place in the present year? The word fusion in National affairs is dangerous and it should be viewed ask- I ance. We have another fusion, as they term it, that means nothing short of taking the whole of New Zealand controlled shipping away from us and leaving our producers entirely at of foreign owners. This question is going to be the centre of a parliamentary hot time. There are those in the world that would sell their souls for personal aggrandisement and, luckily, there are those that are sufficiently blest with a sentiment that keeps country and national freedom and progress well above suspicions of graft. This is only one of the questions not intimately connected with the war that will certainly have to be disposed of. Then there is the perennial liquor question looming up unexpectedly again. Important as this question has proved throughout the world it does seem strange that it should be foTced on at a time when definite disposal Is impossible. Because we refuse to allow the general question to be discussed in these columns we must refrain from saying anything new thereon, but what is asked for now does not appear to have any relation to the main subject; all sorts of people are asking that hotels be closed at six o’clock every evening. Newspapers have very fully put forth the contentions of those favouring six o’clock closing, and many have fully supported them, because as it is urged, it will save our men in camp from taking strong drink at a time when it is likely to prove most harmful. It is probable that Parliament in weighing the evidence will decide against the six o’clock movement, although they may make the closing either eight or nine o’clock. As a means of benefitting soldiers the House will probably come to the conclusion that the opposite will prove the case. The Camp Com-

mandant - says he "will have to establish wet canteens, and then there is sure to grow up a fine crop of that class of houses in cities and country where drink will be stored for afterclosing time use. Soldiers are not free from camp duty till about the ■ time it is desired to close houses, which would be equal to adopting total prohibition for them, while civilians can get what they want before closing time. A decision on the main question would cut away liquor being supplied to brothels as well as in closing hotels, but we really think Six O’clock closing would encourage worse conditions. However, this is a matter that Parliament will have some difficulty in deciding, and one that will tend to further cut adrift the happy-family form of administration. Labour problems may be thought too insignificant for the National Incompatibles to bother much about. Nevertheless it is a real something that will not long be set back. Labour has scented the fact that a general election is almost certain to eventuate this year, and" provincial federations are passing resolutions and taking practical steps towards linking up the labour machinery of the whole country. There is no doubting the fact that an organised labour shorn of its I.W.W. barnacles, is numerous enough and in every other way capable of bringing about a labour administration, and all the ostrich-likc antics of conservatism will not alter this possibility. Labour has the opportunity, can it organise the oneness of mind which alone will enable them to achieve so great a political victory? Other subjects that Parliament should regard as pressing are Soldier Settlement and After-War Trade. The already heralded War Loan, and the colossal problem of finance, should provide material for some deep-think-ing and earnest discussion; any false step taken now may result disastrously to our chief taxpayers in the near future. The shipping fusion or merger as the friends of the party who would isolate New Zealand from the rest of the world call it, is brimful of' Ministerial trouble. Claymores have already been taken from the wails of the Incompatible Parlour cleaned up, and are held in readiness for the fray, and are held in readiness for the fray. One Minister has thrown down the challenge; he will have nothing between Ministerial death and victory. He has sounded his clarion, and so | long as he 'is Chief of Marine not a ship shall be taken from this country by any shipping ring or anybody. There are members of Cabinet just as determined to sell New Zealand’s shipping as he is to prevent it being sold, and; altogether a very warm time and, some exciting moments are ahead. If. it is true that the ruling chiefs are • parties to passing this ' country over to the tender mercies ! of the • notably merciful shipping com- j bine, then it is time producers, manu- j facturers, and labourers realised I that they are not natural enemies, but that they only constitute a house divided against itself; that while one party is pulling at the head and the other at the tail, questionable poli- i ticians are milking their cow. We urgently need the economic and industrial house put in order, an armistice called between the opposing occupants; a better understanding cultivated between all parties; more frequent meetings fov discussion, but above all, the entire elimination of everything savouring of the Trust and of the I.W.W. curses. It is time members of the economic, industrial, and producing household combined to avoid the dire disastrous waste of labour and of money due to the antagonism between capital ana labour. The employer who almost constantly has trouble with his workmen, together with the labour agitator, as we have had experience of him, should have \ no voice in conferences' of the econ- j omic household. The position of la- j hour is going to be greatly affected by the return of our men at the front, and we urge labour to realise its responsibilities, and not wait till the unfortunate .soldiers are upon them. These men have fought for the right to live free, and as the majority are of the labouring class, it is for labour here to ensure an organisation, and the institution of a system that will not prove cruel and unjust. These are some thoughts that will arise in the minds of most men on the opening of Parliament this week; there are many others, but to patriots who are not consumed with matters of self-interest, we think those men- ! tioned are the most vital.