The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1927. THE PREMIER'S REVIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 6

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

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1927. THE PREMIER'S REVIEW.

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

It was certainly time that Ministers made policy speeches. Great and difficult problems confront the country, and the session is approaching. Moreover, the Leader of the Opposition, living in that happy state of greater freedom and less responsibility which is the lot of Oppositions, has been going round the country telling everybody, especially the farmer, what an indifferent Government this is and how much better Labour could manage the country's business. Mr. Holland's reiterated charge, which he calculates will win Labour many rural votes, that the Government was largely responsible for the break-down of butter price fixing in London, was in itself sufficient to draw Ministers. Last week we had a lucid exposition of national finance from Mr. Downie Stewart at Feilding. Last evening Mr. Coates, speaking to the people of his own Northland, reviewed policy as a whole.

Mr. Coates' reference to last session was not happy. "Probably not for many years had Parliament passed so much important legislation in one session." That may be, but it should be added that probably never had Parliament scamped its work so shamelessly. Mr. Coates promises to deal with several important subjects in the coming session. There is to be a Tariff Bill, but beyond making some general remarks on the importance of secondary industries Mr. Coates, like his colleagues, refrains from giving any broad indication of the Government's policy. There is to be legislation to extend rural credits, and the liability of the country ratepayer for road improvement is to be cased on the principle of making the user pay, which means that more taxation is to be placed on motor cars. We notice that revision of incidence of taxation may be postponed still further, and that apparently there is to be further postponement of unemployment insurance legislation. It is satisfactory to learn that the Government's programme of work is well advanced, but is there any reason why Parliament should not be sitting now and dealing with it?

The Prime Minister dealt faithfully with some aspects of the Labour party's campaign. To score off Labour in certain directions is not a difficult task. A party that professes ah ideal of complete Socialism, and then jettisons its "usehold" land policy and adopts a policy preached and put into force by Liberalism years ago, lays itself open to raking fire. The spectacle of the leader of a party that still has for its first "plank" "the socialisation' of the means of production, distribution, and exchange," wooing the small producer, is rather amusing, and impresses one with the adaptability and courage of the politician. Mr. Coates unkindly reminded his audience of Mr. Holland's attitude towards the shipping strike, which kept the producers' goods from the English market. Mr. Coates had also a good deal that was effective to say about dairy "control." That Mr. Holland should support "control" is perfectly natural. He regards it as a step towards socialism, and the fact that he and so many Reformers are united on this one point may appeal to his sense of humour. That, however, is no justification for his attacks on the Government, and Mr. Coates in particular. Mr. Coates explained last evening that he took certain action in London for the simple reason that from his observations he was convinced our trade was in danger. In doing so he simply did his duty.

The Prime Minister says the times calj for "brave hearts and a fixed determination." The main slogan should be "increased production." This is quite sound so far as it gpes, but Mr. Coates should realise that the public, mindful of what happened after the cry of "more business in government and less government in business," is critical of slogans. He is justified in protesting that the Government is not responsible for all the ills of the day, but he may be properly told in return that the country expects from its Government a definite policy and definite leadership, and so far it has signally failed to receive either.