The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1919. BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1919. BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

The statement, made by the Prime Minister in the .House on Tuesday relative to the business of the session clearly indicates the desire that the present Parliament shall come to an end as speedily as possible. Under all the circumstances this is not surprising. Some of the measures mentioned by Mr. Massey as being necessary to be passed into law are such as do not lend themselves to lengthy debate unless party tactics are brought into play, and both the Premier and Sir Joseph "Ward are in accord as to there having been too much party politics in the past, and in the : desire to see a more reasoaable state of things. The leader of the Opposition gave striking proof of the genuineness of thai) desire by abstaining from taking part in the debate on the Address-in-Reply, an example that was loyally followed by all the members of the Liberal party, with the result that the Labor party received no assistance from the Liberals, and the progress of business was expedited: Since Parliament met Sir Joseph "Ward has exhibited commendable restraint in the way of criticism, besides avoiding embarassiug the Government in any way, and if no attempt is made to take advantage of this proper attitude it will probably continue to the end of the session. It is quite conceivable that the Finance Bill may contain ,propo,aftla that are not in the best j

interests of the country, but it is hardly probable the Government will depart much from the lines arranged by Sir Joseph Ward be.fore his resignation from the Ministry, for the Government would bo unwise to court defeat by bringing forward proposals that would rai.se a controversy on matters of principle. Returned soldiers and the public generally will be pleased to learn that the gratuities scheme is framed on lines that will meet with general approval. There is a very strong feeling that the scheme should, if it errs at all, lean to generosity rather than to parsimony, and if this course is adopted it, will create satisfaction. Manifestly there can be no overhaul of the education system by the present Parliament, as the matter is one needing much time and careful consideration. That, however, does not prevent a much larger vote being passed in order to increase teachers' salaries so as to attract the right class of men and women and to improve their status and prospects, and to rebuild and enlarge the school buildings, leaving the reorganisation of the whole system for the new Parliament. The only measure over which trouble may arise is the Land Bill dealing with repatriation. There, may be a temptation to make political capital 0..t of all sorts of jroposals evolved by members, and it is almost too much to expect that the Government can frame proposals that will disarm criticism. They may, however, bring down an attractive but unacceptable scheme that has no chance of becoming law, and, sooner than give way, drop the bill and throw the blame on the Opposition. Such tactics will test the sincerity of the Premier's desire to abolish party politics. Among the other measures mentioned by Mr Massey are those relating, to mining, coal mines, labor, housing, the cost of living, and women's electoral status. It is obvious that if these (with tlie exception of the last named) burning problems are to be solved satisfactorily a long, instead of a short session would be necessary, and it is more than likely "that some of them will be .jettisoned. Better, so than merely to tinker with them and possibly accentuate the evils that now exist. Nearly all these measures are calculated to evoke the party spirit, and the nearness of the general election invariably creates [an atmosphere in Parliament unfavorable to effective legislation. Sir Joseph Ward's remark that if the Premier would always take his lead from him was a pleasantry not devoid of purpose, and it is an indication of the nature of the electoral contest that will shortly determine which party is to be in power. For the present, however, there is a disposition to concentrate on the work of the session, and for that the public may be thankful, yet the calm that is now prevailing may be only a passing phase. It is to be hoped it will last, so that the session may be productive of good results, and particularly that hasty and illconsidered legislation may not be rushed through in the dying hours of Parliament. The Government has everything to gain by exercising a wise discretion' and a conciliatory bearing.