Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27th., 1934. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 June 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27th., 1934. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.

lias been an absence, this year,- of “forecasts” and Ministerial hints usually forthcoming just before the opening of the Parliamentary session, as to the prospective legislation. Whether this reticence is due to the Ministerial desire to retain their “thunder” until the House meets, or whether it implies that little legislation of importance is actually ready for presentation, must be left to individual opinion. It is clear, however, that the first weeks of the session are likely to be utilised in recriminative. debate. Labour claims to have a large store of ammunition with which to bombard the Ministry, but whether this onslaught will have any effect beyond making a noise, is doubtful.

Eventually, the session will prove important, but most of the business that really matters will be left until the second half, wben the usual rush to get the session ended will be witnessed.

Parliament meets under happier circumstances than those prevailing last year, some degree of national recovery having been reached, with promise of more to come. The number of unemployed, however, keeps high, and this social problem should be given early and serious consideration. Farmers are reported Io be in better financial circumstances, but the dairymen, particularly. are not yet out of the slump; in prices, and the report and recommendations of the Commission enquiring into the industry’s condition, will be awaited with keen interest. Still more important are the negotiations to take place between Um Homeland and Overseas representatives regarding Empire produce marketing, time’s developments leading to increasing clash of interests. Not only is this apparent in trade between Britain and Overseas, but also between the Overseas and those foreign countries with whom Britain is at variance. New Zealand will have to decide which customer she is to placate. Britain’s reprisals against German debt default and Japan’s commercial competition form examples of the problem before all Overseas lands, which rate, say, Germany and Japan, highly as buyers of Dominion products. Regarding internal affairs, the subject most electors are concerned about is taxation relief, and the removal of class-imposts such as the high exchange rati*. If little or nothing is done, this year, in this direction, tin* Coalition will Jose much support. Taxpayers have been very patient during the de-

pression, cheerfully carrying heavy

!burdens Io assist national recovery. Ministers should refrain, from ! taking advantage, of this desire to help. The personnel of the House of Representatives has not changed, but the Legislative Council has been numerically strengthened, if some of the recent appointments failed to arouse widespread enthusiasm. Complaint has already arisen at the absence of territorial representation, in the Upper House, one Chamber of Commerce directing attention of Mr. Forbes to the ‘fact that the whole territory from i Wellington to New Plymouth, is unrepresented. The Greymouth Chamber of Commerce might make a similar protest, seeing that the important district of Greymouth and southwards has been equally

ignored.