The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1916. OPENING OF THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1916. OPENING OF THE SESSION.

The second session of the nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened yesterday with the customary speech by the Governor. The session is earlier than usual and will probably ue not of long duration. Every paragraph in the speech, except the last, has reference to the war, and the speech itself might well have been comprised in the single sentence: "You will therefore be invited to direct the whole of your energies to the settlement of some of the difficult problems which have arrived in consequence of the war and to the consideration of measures which have direct relation to the existing exceptional conditions." If, as the Governor assumes, there is to be abstinence from controversy of a party character the work of Ministers will be extremely light, but it is too much to hope that all vestige of party spirit will be eliminated from the discussions arising.out of the measures to be submitted to the House, or the expenditure of public money. At the same time there is a profound feeling throughout the Dominion that anything approaching to party, Or parochial topics should not be allowed to intrude themselves when the Empire is in the midst of a vital crisis. The debate on the address-in-reply should be absolutely formal and reduced to a minimum for there is nothing in the Governor's speech to warrant any waste of time over it, and the House should speedily get to work on the business of importance that awaits consideration. The Government has had ample time wherein to prepare the measures to'be laid before Parliament, and if they are not all ready no time should be lost in giving the final touches so that the House may not be kept waiting. The electors throughout the country will, under the special circumstances arising from the prosecution of the war, willingly deprive themselves of the pleasure of reading lengthy speeches from their respective members. The present is a time of sacrifice, and it may be taken for granted that the people will not only readily undergo the deprivation of their accustomed stream of oratory from their representatives, but will even welcome the change in

the hope that it heralds the dawn of a new era in which talk will become wholly subservient to utility, so that contributions to debates will only be made when useful, practical and common sense suggestions are made for the benefit of the country as a whole. Hansard would naturaly become insignificant, but few would grieve over that, while the country would be spared a heavy and useless burden now that the price of paper has become a very serious item. It may be expected that the principal matters which will seriously occupy the Attention nf meiifbers will he the recruiting problem, wai pensions, suitable land for soldiers, and the Dominion's contribution to* Britain's war expenses. There can be but one satisfactory solution of the recruiting problem, and that is' to follow the method now being adopted by Britain—general compulsion. The need for a more generous scheme of pensions is generally recognised, and considering the wonderful prosperity the dominion is enjoying, and is likely for many years to enjoy, there should be no hesitation in giving the fullest scope to that practical patriotism which demands that our treatment of the wounded soldiers, and those who are dependents of the dead shall recfive assistance to enable them

to have a comfortable existence. The land question also requires to be faced in a common sense way, and sufficient suitable areas procured in a systematic manner. As the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward propose to visit England after the close of tile session it is quite conceivable that they would feel somewhat ashamed to face the British Ministers as financial arrangements between the Motherland and the Dominion are now existing, when. New Zealand with millions of spare money awaiting investment is yet burdening Britain with war expenditure that should be met in the Dominion. It will not be surprising, therefore, if a proposal is made in the House to contribute, as Australia "d Canada have done, to the Imperial •-'• expenses account, or at least to ]■•<■• ' a sufficient sum so as to relieve !•• '" of finding war« loan money f '>' Zealand. Our representative ;n : -could then with graoe oresent th<--.

in England, and their welcome would be doubly hearty for they would then be ablo to claim that the Dominion CJovernmeut had done its best to further the conduct of the war, and this they cannot do UMtil they provide money as well as men. The war can only be won by throwing the whole of our resources iito the fight, aad the end in view ia worth the price.