The N. Z. Times MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1910. WORK OF PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7016, 3 January 1910, Page 4

The N. Z. Times

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1910. WORK OF PARLIAMENT

WITH WHICH IB IHOORPOBATID THE n W»Ll*l»aXoa IKrHFSNSBNT.’* ESTABLISHED IBiB.

The Prime Minister, we think will be generally admitted, is quite within his rights in claiming to a Southern interviewer that during the session which concluded last week work of really first importance had been discharged by Parliament. Though there ’have been sessions in which very much more spectacular business engaged the attention of members and fired the country to violent controversy, we doubt very much whether after any session of. the past twenty years the statute book was found to contain measures of greater general interest! to tho whole of the people than is attached to the now law of 1909. Had tho Government pressed on with its full programme the claim of this Parliament to “ a record first session would have been undeniable, but even making allowance for tho one notable question to which the rest cure is still being applied tho Prime Minister is able to point to a solid measure of achievement.

Very rightly Sir Joseph Ward claims that the proceedings in relation to finance are entitled to first place in public estimation. In this connection Parliament was given the opportunity of making very valuable provision for the finance of local bodies and to thus remove a serious embarrassment from their path. Under the State Guarantee Advances Act there is not only this machinery for local finance, but we will have a certain dissection of the public debt and a separation of accounts showing what accretions to the public debt come within the category of “ reproductive enterprises.” This is a step in tho right direction. There is almost unanimity nowadays in the Government finding money for such purposes as advances to settlers and workers, for the acquirement of land and so forth, and it is only right that details of the public debt should he presented in such a way as to permit of ~m of State activity be-‘-sc]-’ from tho ordinary, infa a .rational prosecut' -

of a developmental policy;—the construction of railways and roads, the settlement of land and the financing of mortgages—the Ministry has the unquestioned support of the country, and it will not shrink from undertaking the necessary liabilities. "When the electors know that the public debt is increased for such purposes as these their feeling can only bo one of satisfaction. The expenditure is purely a capital outlay upon the improvement of the national estate, and the stimulation of that industry and production from which all our wealth is drawn. There are immense responsibilities in this direction yet to be discharged, and, provided tho work is carried on with prudence and the interests of the general taxpayer conserved by a jealous assertion of the State’s rights, tho people will give the Ministry sustained support as tho only policy consistent with national growth.

Yet, important though the problems of State and local finance dealt with wore, they are in our estimation not so significant or, indeed, so directly essential to the community as tho measures relating to defence which received legislative sanction. The changes made by Parliament in the system of internal defence, for instance, were fundamental. For tho first time wo have the principle of. national service recognised by the provision making physical and military drill part of tho education of the young, and a training to arms compulsory on all males until they reach the age of twenty-one years. This step wo believe to be in accord with public sentiment. We believe it to bo necessary. For both reasons Parliament is to-be commended for its decision, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the administration of the Act will be distinguished by an intelligent conception of the Legislature’s aim. This Act alone would make the session of 1909 memorable so far as defence is concerned, but to it has to he added tho ratification of tho proposals put forward by tho Imperial Defence Conference and the authorisation of expenditure to meet tho Dreadnought commitment. This places tho Dominion in an entirely new relationship with the Mother Country, and to some extent harmonises the', collective naval defence of the Empire. Both in relation to internal defence and naval policy Parliament took high ground, and while the admission may be made that it might have done much more there is this to remember—that it might have done very much less, and could havo embarked upon all sorts of wild alternatives. As the matter stands, 1 Parliament may be said to haye acted with a hold determination to act up to the requirements of the situation it had to face.

In comparison with finance and defence the remainder of the political “ output ’’ loses some of its force. Yet the session gave the country a Native Land Aot, introducing several salutary reforms, and rescued from chaos many years of legislation. By consolidating the native land law into this one Act Parliament did valuable service, for the law had hitherto been a maze of technicality from which even lawyers shrank in dismay. Now we have a carefully drafted statute embodying the whole law—-a boon, for which everyone concerned had almost despaired to ever obtaining. In addition, the session has, given us a measure making great changes in the administration of hospitals l and charitable aid, a Shipping and Seaman’s Act of considerable importance to seafaring men and owners of ships, an extension of old age pension privileges, the Land Settlement Finance Aot, a more liberal system of advances to workers for erecting homes, an improved scale of death and succession duties, and an improvement in the position of the funds for the superannuation of State employees. The record, it will be seen, is a remarkably good one, and though the Session dosed with a violent eruption of partisan rancour, this in no way discounts the claim the Prime Minister is able to make on behalf of the Ministry and his following in tlie House. Without endangering the stability of the heavens, the ■Ministry succeeded in making the session of 1909 a period to be often referred to.