THE UNITED PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 209, 4 September 1929, Page 6

THE UNITED PARTY.

Although wishing the United party every success and a lengthy reign, I am afraid thai; if the Prime Minister persists in wasting time in continually criticising the past policy of the existing insignificant remnant of the oncepowerful Reform party there will be another, election in the near future, which is not by any means desirable. We almost annihilated the Reform party at the last election because of its incompetence and inefficiency to administer the affairs of this country, and no good pur. pose is served by further exposing the political sins or delinquencies of the previous Government. We are anxiously waiting for the present Government to carry out as speedily as possible progressive measures which will again place this splendid little country in.the van of progress. Hitherto various parts of the North Island have remained undeveloped through lack of decent roads, and the Government should proceed with a vigorous main highways policy. Railways are becoming a thing of the past, and the construction of main highways should be a national undertaking and not left to local bodies, already overburdened by huge indebtedness. If the Government, for instance, constructed a main high* way in concrete to the North Cape thousands of acres of existing vacant land would be available for settlement and most of Auckland's unemployed absorbed. -Unemployment in New Zealand has become chronic, in common with other countries, and can only be successfully coped with by the establishment of a mutual system of insurance. Sir Joseph's position is not by any means a bed of roses. His Cabinet Ministers are anything but brilliant statesmen, judged by his own standard. The Labour members should adopt a more level-headed attitude and give the Prime Minister every assistance instead of joining forces with the discredited Eeforni party hi continually heckling and attacking him. JOHN GUINIVEN. •