The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1925. PARLIAMENT AND POLICIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 233, 2 October 1925, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1925. PARLIAMENT AND POLICIES.

» For the. cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The session that closed yesterday was more remarkable for changes in leadership and developments in relations between the parties titan for legislative achievement. From the point of view of law-making it was an uninteresting session, richer in talk than in wisdom. It was a notable period, however—first, for the change in the leadership of the Government, brought about by the death of Mr. Massey; and then for the negotiations for fusion. It ia too early to say that the new Prime Minister has proved himself an able leader of the House and his party. It is not easy to master the procedure of Parliament and handle members with the requisite mixture of firmness and tact, and in fairness to Mr. Coates it may be said that, like his predecessors, he has to learn his job. As for fusion, for the time being, at any rate, it is not a question of practical politics. The negotiations have left a legacy of dispute as to what happened, but this is not likely to count for much in tho election. The average voter will judge the parties largely by their policies.

A few words arc in place about members who are retiring from politics Sir Francis Bell announced yesterday that he would be in England next year and though lie may continue to 'he a Legislative Councillor, it i s ],'g hly improbable, that lie will ngain ] cad the Council. He lias earned his retirement and takes with him a long and honourable record of public service. That his culture and exceptional intellectual gifts were very valuable in public life "was freely granted by his political opponents. His retirement is a national matter, but the Government party has a special interest in it. Sir Francis Bell has always been a power in Reform councils, and the Government and the party will miss his knowledge and experience. The retirement of Sir K. H. Rhodes removes one of the most popular men who ever sat in the House. Never beyond the ordinary as an administrator, he brought to politics charm and good manners of a rather rare kind. In Mr. Isitt the House, which has few really good speakers, loses its foremost orator, and it will be a duller place without his mixture of burning enthusiasm, righteous indignation, and breezy humour. Mr. Witty and Mr. J. C. Thomson, who also retire, wore Liberal members in the old Seddoniau days, and their departure means the severing of links with a now distant past.

The stage is now clear for the election campaign. The Government has yet to put its policy before the electors, and the past session did not disclose any wealth of political ideas in that quarter. The National party is first in the field with a manifesto setting out its aims. \Ve may repeat what we said when the change of name was made, that we do not like "National." However, the public may be reminded that the name covers the old Liberal-Labour party, and though the discarding of the good old word "Liberal" may cost the party something in the campaign, the party will be judged mainly by its policy and the way that policy is presented. Lack of policy has been a weakness in the party, but a programme has now been put forth which touches on nearly every problem. We do not regard it as perfect. It is too vague and timid in places. On the question of electoral reform. for example, it might bo more explicit. It has, however, many good points, such as its insistence on a more progressive land policy and the promise of revision of taxation incidence ami reduction of Customs taxation, and it is in tho Liberal tradition. We hope National party candidates will elaborate this policy and expound it vigorously.