Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 11th., 1933. END OF THE SESSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 11th., 1933. END OF THE SESSION.

PARLIAMENT, yesterday, concluded its labours and debates for another few months, and few will be sorry. The general hope will be that when Members and Councillors are next called together, a happier condition of national affairs Avill have been reached, and l\linisters will be less harassed. The duty'of all. meanwhile, is to cooperate as cheerfully as possible, so that Winter’s hardships may be minimised, and that peace and good order may prevail. New Zealand's troubles are serious, and the sacrifices her peojile are called upon lo make cannot be dismissed as insignificant, but- courage and patience may lie derived from the knowledge that it hath, pleased Providence lo grant this country bounteous harvests, and .none need starve. Many another land would be glad if lliey could claim as much, ami would be contented if I heir own lot were no worse than is New Zealand’s. As for the Parliamentary ses-j

sion’s work, there is room for criticism of Government policy, particularly where the fixing of a high exchange rate was concerned, and it is to be hoped that this blunder will be remedied as early as possible. But that error apart, no crime of any magnitude can be laid against the Cabinet, considering the arduous difficulties to be overcome. The Opposition gave the Ministry no real help, but sought

to extract the utmost Party advantage from the crisis. That attitude did not add to national respect for Labour. Its leaders missed a great opportunity of showing their fitness for office, and administrative ability. In small affairs, Icoal body Avork, for instance, some Labour men do well, but when they have to deal with larger questions, they display incompetence and short-sightedness, explained mainly by their dependence on those whose votes are forthcoming only on political promissory notes, which their own sense should tell them, could

never be fully honoured. One regret many well-wishers to the Coalition , shared during the past session was the apparent subservience of the Prime Minister to Mr. Coates, who seemed to have the deciding voice in Cabinet councils. No justification for this dominance was displayed, and it cannot be claimed, in this hour, when national finances require the most expert handling, that the nation, generally, regards Mr. Coates as the best Minister of Finance posI sible. Should it prove that his exchange measure, for instance, will be the panacea he claims it for the country’s economic ills, those who now criticise him, will be among the first to congratulate him, and admit they were mistaken. It is to be hoped that Mr. Coates will be equally quick to confess error, if the evidence is in that direction. Meanwhile, all can agree to assist in making a success of the loan conversion scheme, the wisdom of • which is not seriously questioned.