TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1922. PARLIAMENT AND THE ELECTORS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 31 October 1922, Page 4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1922. PARLIAMENT AND THE ELECTORS.

j^..v ~— —*__^— ; ■■■■;■' I The final session of the Parliament elected in December, 1910, draws to an end to-day. We look back over the three years /of its existence and we find that many great changes have taken place.. When the last election was held the Dominion was experiencing the post-war boom, and in every direction trade and industry appeared to be flourishing as never Before. Few people seemed to realise that the boom feust some day burst, and that when it did the task of government would be made'extremely difficult.: The Parliament; which was elected; in 1919 has experienced the full force of the depression, and in thinking over the work which it has liad to do one must, in fairness, make allowances for the peculiar difficulties which have been caused by first abnormal and later subnormal conditions. The peak; of departmental expenditure had not been reached in l'9lO, and in 1920 two of the main Government departments, the Railways and the Post and Telegraph, whose employees were certainly deserving of sympathetic attention, were granted salary and. wa^y increases, while throughout the Civil Service adjustments were made. The departmental expenditure thus jumped up very considerably, and for eighteen months continued at the highest point, until decreasing revenue and the general depression affecting the ! whole country forced the Government to take up the question of reducing expenditure. This year has found the Government going carefully into the problem, and already considerable savings have b'een effected. The task is one that may seem to be easy enough to everybody but those actually engaged upon it, but if one stops to think v broadly upon the numerous questions one can appreciate how difficult it is. to decide upon reductions and yet take care that in the process there is fair and just dealing towards the taxpayer and the Government employee. It is much easier to say that taxes ought to be reduced greatly and that salaries and vwages ought to be brought down than it is to do these things in times such as £he country is passing tErough. The session which is coming to an end was marked by the worthless type of criticism which has been brought against tne Government. It is not enough to accuse the Administration of reckless expenditure, unless with the indictment a clear indication is given of what line should be taken to alter the position. During the next few weelcs the various candidates for election will place before audiences their views on the questions affecting

the Dominion's welfare. Those who are opposed to the Government will criticise tk© Administration for which Mr. Massey and. his Ministers aro responsible j those candidates who favour" the Government's policy will set out their defence. When election day arrives the ejectors will have the responsibility of delivering their ]udg- ' men*-; and the new Parliament should show clearly bow the criticism and defence have been weighed by the electors. At the present stage of the country's development it seems to us that a prime necessity jis to secure a 'sound and strong Administration and a Government that cam be trusted to legislate fairly. The people have every j right lo make a close analysis of the work-of the present Parliament and its \ members, and tc set down on the credit! and, debit sides the results of their analysis. If they find that the aggregate 1-esult is that performance in the past justifies a continuance of the country's confidence in the Government for the future then the electors will see j to it that the Government secures a majority. If if> happens that the majority "of^ electors come to the conclusion that another Government can do. better then it will be their duty to ' make a change. But no reasonable, person would dream of voting for a; change unless the policy of the new ■ Government were known and the country ha.d an opportunity of judging the.merits for otherwise of its policy, i Again therecis the danger of making ; changes when the country is in the ; middle of a difficult situation; so that altogether electors have plenty of food ( for thought during the next few weeks. They should hear all the candidates' speeches and treat them all with the' fair play and respect which are so much cherished by British people, but, having heard .the various views expressed by. the aspirants to Parliamentary honours, the electors should then carefully and as fully as .possible think over the various matters affecting' the country's welfare, taking into their considerations the ability, of the candidates to represent them, and make their final choice. The responsibility/or' sifting the wheat from the chaff, the sound proposals from the unsound, rests with the electors, and it is a duty that top.often is lightly'regarded. . :.-■<-■■ - j