The Hawera Star FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1924. THE SESSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 June 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1924. THE SESSION.

Delivered every evening t>y 6 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohaugai, Meremere, Fraser Hoad, and Ararat*.

Parliament opened yesterday after the long vacation. This session will provide members with plenty of subjects to occupy their attention, and many keen debates are expected. Considerable discussion is taking place in various parts of the Dominion on political matters, and there appears to be more public interest in politics at the present time than there has been for many months past. After the last general election the majority of newspapers suggested that the best course' was a fusion of the Reform and Liberal Parties, and recently this proposal has again been brought into prominence. In some quarters a new party is being advocated, but the general feeling seems to be that a reduction and not an - increase of parties is what is needed, and one often hears the opinion expressed that there is so little difference between Reform and Liberal that it should not be difficult to bring about a union of the anti-Socialist elements and enable more stable government to be secured. As anticipated, the Liberal Party has decided to move a no-confidence. motion on the Address-in-Reply, but members of the Government party do not fear the result, while leading members of the three parties do not anticipate an early election. If the no-confidence motion is defeated the Government will ‘proceed with its programme which, as the Governor-General’s Speech shows, is full of interesting and important proposals, demanding the best- thought and consideration of the House. The country’s financial condition is satisfactory, and, compared with other countries. New Zealand is in perhaps the soundest position in the world. "Whatever one's view, we think that some of the credit should he given to the Government, which has been in office during the most difficult period in the history of the country. Since the last election the Government has had only a narrow majority in the divisions in the House, but it has been sufficient to keep the Reform Party in office.. 'Hie session just opened is what is known as the working session, and though some of the Bills will no. doubt be of a non-party nature, the Government’s proposed measures may cause doubt as to whether sufficient support will be forthcoming to place them on the Statute Book. \Tlie Bills dealing with the land laws, motor vehicles, pensions. and the moratorium will probablv encourage, the keenest debates from all sides, hut the other proposals may not prove so difficult. The recent railway strike ami the claims of the P. and T. Association will no doubt be brought into (he debate on the Address-/n-Eeply, which will occupy several sit-

tings. The Governor-General’s Speech gives an outline of what the Administration has been doing, and shows that efforts to improve matters in various directions have been going on steadily. The Taxation Committee’s report will be awaited with interest, but until its contents are known it is impossible to say how it will be received by the House. The Prime Minister has promised a further reduction in taxation as isoon as it is possible to make it, and no doubt the Government will be guided by the committee's report in framing its taxation amendments. There is plenty of work for the House to do, and it is tO' be hoped that members will settle down to work early in the session and put aside the party wranglings which waste so much time and are worthless and expensive. The Governor-General’s Speech ends with a tribute to the loyalty of the people of New Zealand to the Empire, and praise for the progress which the country has made during Lord Jellicoe’s term in the Dominion, and his keen desire that the future shall be prosperous. The only way to ensure that prosperity is by hard and consistent work by all sections of the people and by resisting any movement of an extreme nature that is likely to injure the country. 'The people look to Parliament to set. an example, and with the programme outlined in the Governor-General’s Speech before them members of the House will have ample opportunity of setting that example. Party wrangling will not carry the country forward, and the difficulties of the present time are such as require careful thought and cooperative effort to find the best solutions.