Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1925. SESSION’S OPENING

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, JUNE 26 , 1925. SESSION’S OPENING

By this time, experience causes few to expect the speech thrust on the Governor General to be very informative as to the Ministry’s intentions for the session, and yesterday’s address was again a review of recent events, previously well-known to Parliament and the country, or felicitous references opportune to the occasion. Sir Charles Ferguson thanked New Zealanders for the welcome extended to him and Lady Ferguson since their arrival, and it is fitting to acknowledge here that their Excellencies have made a good start, and there is every reason to believe that their term of office will be very successful. The little revealed about prospective legislation was mainly to do with the development of national primary industries, and further aid is to be given to settlers. This is right in principle, as the nation must recognise that the foundation of the country’s prosperity rests on farming products; it is to be hoped that reciprocity will be forthcoming when prices of food for Dominion consumption, are being arranged by the farmers’ organisations. There was little unexpected about the proposed amendments or consolidation of various Acts, and keen opposition is unlikely, however prolonged may be the respective debates. The country, generally, will share the Ministerial hopes that time will be found to pass the Child Welfare Bill, providing overdue reforms in administration and checking growing ills. Summed up, the Speech was colourless, but not more so than most of its predecessors, and it will serve its Parliamentary purpose of supplying something general about which Members can talk until they are tired. The final session of Parliament is seldom ■characterised by bold legislative measures, the Members being too obviously aware that they will shortly have to face all sorts and conditions of electors, whose votes are of consequence. Most of the questions to be put to Ministers savour of this “electioneering,” Labourites being prominent in their proclaimed zeal to make everybody better off. That solicitude deceives few, and certainly not the Ministers. The real question the public are concerned about is the prospects of fusion between Reform and the Liberals. The messages and forecasts, this week, have not been of a re-assuring nature, but it is to be hoped that these guesses will prove incorrect. The country in general wants the fusion to be arranged, and if it is found that personal consideration among Parliamentarians prevented the desirable co-operation, those held responsible are likely to receive . their rewards when next they face the electors.