The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1920. TWO GREAT BASIC PROBLEMS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3513, 26 June 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1920. TWO GREAT BASIC PROBLEMS.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino 4 News.”

It is probable that a New Zealand .Parliament never met, even in the war period, to undertake more momentuous duties than those the present session have to face. Yet there is a commonplace, humdrum gathering of legislators differing little from similar assemblings that have gone before. It is also tolerably correct to say that on most, occasions members of a new Parliament meet while having little knowledge of what is before them or what is expected of them, but, however true that may have been regarding the past it can hardly be claimed to be the position on this occasion. There are great overshadowing questions which dominate the future so thoroughly and comprehensively to be dealt with, and in this connection it is -ratifying to note that at least one section of the HouSe in Opposition has made it abundantly clear that, party considerations will not be allowed to feppose Ithemselve* ;fo J3w country's, needs and interests.' It only remains for the Leader of the House to meet Members in a similar spirit, casting aside all efforts to put private interests before national good and exploitation of politics rather than labour for the highest aims of legislation, to render the present session the one that will live in history as the architect of a reformed, reconstructed peaceful, contented and prosperous community. The time and conditions furnish Abundant materiall *to work upon, to miss the opportunity gives, or to leave untouched or ill-con-sidered any of the prevailing conditions is to condemn the present House to being termed a motley, moribund medley of mere politicals. With the assurances of Members in Opposition, and the good sense of a Leader to make the most of a great opportunity, the statute book in 1921 should be something that every honest person in the community can point to with pride, as being the best, the most sincere, the most perfect, unselfish attempt that any Parliament over made i&i bringing industrial peace and. social contentment out of the chaotic conditions obtaining as a result of the great war. There are basic problems to wrestle with that can no longer be left to drift; the community is swaying hither and thither with nothing but mere chance and speculation to guide it; split into almost innumerable factions, each intent upon its own safety in emerging from the chaotic .turmoil; a community that is alarmingly drifting from the country where riches are obtained, to cities where riches earned from the soil in the country are spent in lavish extravagance. This drift to national destruction must at all hazards be turned buck from the haunts of pleasure, vice and consumption to the broad rich plains, She luxuriantly grass clad hills, and the pure healthful atmosphere of the country, from whence the initial capital for the national business alone can come. Land laws, can no longer remain as they are with safety; the land question is at the very base of all future improvements; umrsued land must no longer be left unproductive, and thai which is not worked up to its fullest productive capacity must be a subject that Parliament dare not fail to ileal with in an earnest, exhaustive determination to briny :ibout that meed of production rial will tend to secure the utmost in National progress. Whal people have yd failed to realise Members of Parliament must be fully cognisant of, they dare not shirk (heir responsibilities at such a time. There are, of coarse, individuals in Parliament as well 'aa out of it who think that because their status in. the eommun-

:fv is quite in accordance with their shortsighted desires Hie community is quite all right. The large majority of Membcr s of the new Parliament have, however, disclosed on the hustings that thev have jio misgivings about this Dominion. as well as other units of the Empire, being at the crossroads, where the ways leading to progress and contentment are intersected by those passing downward to failure, discontent and revolution. Next to the lan ( ] problem and closely related to it ; ? that, of finance. The country is by no means bankrupt yet the National Administration is without any money to carry on ihs rational business. Tt reems a simple proposition to acquire the of Government from the community's abundance, and yet this is a subject fraught with more diffi-

euljty, perhaps, than any other Government haw to face. In coining down to basic facts it is forced upon notice that there is such a spirit of greed abroad that men who own aecunmlatr ed wealth are fearful lest they be called upon to contribute more in taxation than those who have nothing. This is, perhaps, rather straining the point, but it is essential that this tendency should be fully brought home to everyone, be he rich or poor. Upon land and finance the whole superstructure must stand'that is either for civilisation and progress, or for discontent and social disruption. When faced with the finance problem the foreseeing observer must be fearful of every step Government seems urged to take. The national treasury is empty, local bodies are clamouring for loan money, the people are in a semi-houseless condition, people are drifting from production of riches to consumption of riches, money is not available in Britain, New Zealanders are cast upon their own resources and good commonsense, what will they do about itf That is the momentous question, which Parliament alone is privileged to answer. Upon the two basic questions of land and finance, which comprehend all primary production and taxation, all other questions are dependent; upon their satisfactory solution depends the satisfactory solution of all subsidiary problems, great as they seem. No Parliament had such grave responsibility east upon it as that which is now in session, and its legislative success or failure will earn for it the heartiest appreciation or the deepest condemnation. If every citizen who is able will render Government and Parliament the asj&istanc|s it is in nis power to give the utmost, may be hoped for. This view is encouraged by the knowledge th.at the two greatest par' ties iu the House will unite in placing the two great basic questions on the highest plane possible leading to increased production and more widespread contentment.