Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1935. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 272, 30 August 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1935. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

“It is anticipated that His Excellency’s speech at the opening of Parliament will be longer and more informative as to the Government's policy than such speeches have been in recent years.” Such was a message from Wellington published on Wednesday, received by the public with satisfaction, as promising that at long last the Speech from the Throne would serve a more useful purpose than previous utterances. The public, however, were doomed to disappointment. The intentions of the Government are expressed in the manner long familiar. Those matters deemed worthy of extended reference are merely the subject of recapitulation of existing conditions with the announcement that action is intended. Then comes a bare catalogue of other matters that will be dealt with during the session. On the present occasion justification may perhaps be sought in the statement that the legislation is mainly of a minor amending character. If this forecast proves correct the country will express no regret. The undoubted advance towards a more stable state and the increasing signs of returning prosperity remove the necessity of further drastic steps such as, while unfortunately imperative, left the community in a state of doubt. One of the most interesting items of the Government’s policy is the extension of useful public works, as it is suggested that the time is opportune owing to the fact that necessary loan money can be obtained at a low rate of interest. There are many directions in which such a policy can be profitably carried out, but the essential is that the works undertaken be strictly essential. As the Prime Minister stated yesterday, the whole session pivots on the financial statement. The budgetary position, though greatly improved on what it has been in recent years and indeed much better than was forecast, still leaves much to be desired. The people cannot expect such lightening of the load of taxation as they desire, but keeping in view the legitimate requirements of the Dominion both in the way of provision for current needs and of laying the foundation for recovery of financial stability, it is to be hoped that the Minister will be able to make some concessions, removing the imposts that bear most heavily. In respect to the sales tax, however, it must be confessed that the silence o Mr Forbes is not pleasant. In view of the approach of a general election, members of the House will doubtless follow the precedent of previous last sessions and endeavour to make party and individual points that they trust will influence the constituencies It is but natural that this should be so, but if the debaters have regard for the best interests of the country they will limit their efforts in this direction.