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Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1929, Page 4

It? was satisfactory at least that the iaouse disposed so promptly of the no(.onudence motion. : Sir Joseph Ward seized the opportunity to make the fuliest exposition of the political position, and no doubt his lengthy speech was not intended for the House alone, but for the country at large. Mr Holland was consistent in his statemeht of the position, of -the -Labour-Party—-the determination not to.oust the Government for the convenience of .-.the Official Opposition was plainly stated. On learning definitely, of that situation, Mr Coates exercised a proper discretion in not carrying on a futile debate, and allowed his motion to go to a division with the result that Sir Joseph had a two to one victory Such a handsome result, should be a/definite indication to Parliament that it might well get on with the business of the session by dropping the desire on the part of Members to talk so much so aimlessly on all kinds of issues not directly before the House. This is accounted for probably by the fact that there are so many new members anxious to air •heir eloquence and justify their presence through Hansard for the benefit of their constituents. Only a portion of the electors, however, study Hansard- so there must be great volumes of eloquence wasted on the desert air of Parliament. The Government now has a definite mandate from, the House to proceed with the business of the country. It is to ■he hoped the Budget debate will be determined without. delay;, a.nd Parliament : settle down to the legislative business of the country requiring attention. Sir Joseph will be fully warranted in pressing through , the land proposals whereby the old Liberal activities in land settlement will he revived. As regards the primage, duty, 10 is clear the Government must raise additional r' money promptly, and une primage levy is a prompt method of. doing so without pressing on any particular section. In any case it has been made clear that the increased levy is not to remain at two per cent, ad valorem—the increase is purely temporary, and in that light much of the opp-sition to the levy must disappear. The well-to-do fnriners are loud in their opposition to the now land taxation, but that has to under Liberal Government, for the use of the land for closer settlement is one of the chief planks of a prosperous policy. That, was nroveb in the past, and the present effort is in the direction of political historv repeating itself. Landowners in "reo<i -must. 4| ir »rpfore make more use of 'their holdings, or he prepared to any for the-’r privilege of holding n.reo’c; Mere ,settlement 1 will be hrfwinrht, "Kent, hi' the of cch a. policy ac y? inteprlnd by the rVvprn"*iPT>t, net l in" v ""c:pt] taxation fer Inrce of '-wl ’t? oil n of the Jevert; +n reooh what the’ po-pntrv no rcil"h den,'yoc r>',"-”o n" '1 wore co+4-lo_ moat,, The defeat of the T *-\Lv , m motion ef no-con fl dnee openo the wav to the Government. +o press itc policy regarding the land more actively.