The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1920. THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1920. THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

The opening of the first session of the new Parliament signalises two events: It will be the last occasion on which, Lord Liverpool will present the customary address as Governor-General, and it will be the first time Mr. Massey will face the House with a substantial majority behind him. The session bids fair to be lengthy, owing to the amount of business requiring attention. Between the opening and closing of the session the programme of legislation is bound to be comprehensive, and as the Premier's majority is ample to carry all Government measures, there should be a creditable record of enactments, several of which are long overdue. The dominant factor must be finance, for under this heading has to be included not only the general taxation, but a readjustment of its incidence, a revision of the Customs tariff, the prosecution of public works, the settlement of returned soldiers, the provision of more houses, pushing forward the hydro-elec-tric scheme, meeting the financial requirements in connection with education, fostering the development of the Dominion's resources promoting secondary industries' public health reforms, and supplementing pensions. It is improbable there will be any lessening of taxation, and the Finance Minister will do well if he can avoid increasing the burden the people now carry, except in relation to the railways and post and telegraph services, an increase in the charges in these cases having already been forecasted in order to pay for the higher rates of pay now ruling. If a tithe of the urgent needs of the Dominion is met, there must be a considerable amount of money raised by way of local loans. Mr. Massey will have a difficult task in administering the Dominion's finance, and it should be the earnest endeavor of every member of the House to give the utmost assistance in his power in order to place the finances on a sound footing, and to control both revenue and expenditure from a broad national standpoint, while insisting on the exercise of rigorous economy in de.expeaditure, e^eciallx'

in relation to defence. Among the problems requiring solution are: The Dominion's naval policy, the government of Samoa, land aggregation and speculation, immigration, electoral reform, local government reform (especially as to the upkeep of arterial roads), the shipping question, education reforms, hospital administration} and a number of other matters needing close consideration. It is probably too much to expect that restraint will be exercised in the debate on tile "Address-in-Re-ply," but it would certainly be better policy to get to work at once, so that the numerous important measures may be adequately discussed. The alterations in the personnel of the Houso will, it is hoped, add to its efficiency as a legislative body, a fair proportion of the new members being good business men. The Premier has a great opportunity of accomplishment, and the session should be a record one if members are im-' bued with a full sense of their responsibilities to the Dominion.