Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1936 A DEBATE THAT SHOULD NOT BE PROLONGED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 31 March 1936, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1936 A DEBATE THAT SHOULD NOT BE PROLONGED

THE debate on the address to be presented by Parliament in reply to the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne will commence to-night. There is more reason than ever why it should not be prolonged. In the. past this debate has often extended into weeks. A reasonably-timed debate may serve a useful purpose, but when legislative proposals are not ready for submission to Parliament, members’ loquacity has freouently been allowed to run almost unchecked. To-day we are assured by the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savnge) that the Government is prepared with its major legislation which is designed to apply as soon as possible the principles upon which supporters of the Government were elected in November last. The Leader of the Opposition (the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes) lias expressed a keen desire to know the details of the manner in which the Government proposes to implement its policy. Mr Savage has replied that the quicker tho Ad-dress-in-Rcply debate is disposed of, the sooner will those details be known. At once, by Governor-General’s message, the Government’s major proposals—and these at the outset must deal with finance—will be brought down. With this assurance, the country, which is awaiting with the greatest interest—and, as Mr Savage realises, with some anxiety—the Government’s detailed proposals, will not be in tho mood to listen to an unduly extended debate which must be more or less tedious, and deal to a large extent with the past when the present and the future are the immediate concern. Members of the Ministry believe “that the measures they intend to introduce will lead to an early and material improvement in the weli-being of all, and particularly of those upon whom the effects of the depression have fallen with greater severity.’’ Those words are quoted

from the Speech from the Throne, which j is, of course, compiled by His Excel-' lency’s advisers, the Government of the ; day.' Tiiose words, following on the. many announcements of Ministers before and since the election, must have ( brought comfort, consolation and hope to many homes. Equally important, and at least in part assisting to remove misgiving in many quarters, was the statement which followed the one already quoted: In applying this policy, however, it is my Ministers’ intention to ensure that no injustice is done to any section of the community. We feel that the country as a whole wishes the Prime Alinister and his Alinisters well in their endeavour, and hopes that they will be able to demonstrate that they are “builders, not wreckers.”