ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1920. BY DEFAULT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1920. BY DEFAULT.

How true it is that Mr Massey has all his own way in the political world is shown by the untimely collapse of the Budget debate. But tfie breakdown was a particularly inglorious affair, and, though the Prime Minister is ; fully entitled to

smile, it is a matter for disappointment, and even, disgust. For all ■their attenuation, it. is no credit to the Opposition and Independent elements in the House to ailbjv the discussion of a Budget of such magnitude, and ' involving such important issues, ; to go practically by default. Notwithstanding the Hon. Mr MacDpnald's unfortunate illness, the way in; which they were caught napping will be difficult to excuse. Surery it is to be hoped that they will make amends later on in the 'session, without of course unprofitably consuming the time and energy of Parliament. There is ample scope for effective and constructive criticism, which might not perhaps shake the Prime Minister's leading principles very seriously, but could, at least, be expected to have an ultimate influence on public opinion. One cause especially that calls loudly for vigorous championship is that of closer land-settlemenf. The Government's policy in this respect badly needs galvanising and democratising. "In his Budget, the Finance Minister proudly directs attention to a table "which indicates that during the eight years ended March 31, 1&20 there have been 23,021 -subdivisions of land, affecting'4,s3B,ooo acres"; but these figures need a good deal of amplification to give them their true meaning, and we suspect that if they were thus illuminated they would not make a satisfactory showi ing. There may .have been a lot of subdivision .by, freeholders, but what would it really 'amount to if the number of new settlers placed on the land were set out with the i number of farmers who have been able to retire'? The Lyttelton Times puts the case very well when it says: — t '*A- point upon which most towndwellers are curious is concerning not only the number of men which governmental activities have put on the land, but the number of strong, healthy, robust farmers which those samq .activities have placed in affluent retirement in the cities. .The number of ' retired farmers ' in New Zealand must surely constitute n ; record In proportion to population." The outstanding need of the country, as the condition of things in Marlborough so eloquently illustrates, is a genuine, progressive land-settle-ment policy; and that it certainly

doesS not possess now,