Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1914. The New Session.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 24 June 1914, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1914. The New Session.

To-morrow will witness the opening of the last session of the present Parliament. At first it was considered that Ihe Session would be a short one in view of the near approach of the General Election, but latterly the Prime Minister has signified his intention of submitting important and far reaching measures to Parliament which he proposes to put to the vote of the House even if it results in the undue prolongation of Parliament to do so. One of the most important measures to be submitted is an Education Bill which will, it is said, embody some far reaching reforms which have been spoken of for some time past. Other measures that will be brought forward for consideration will be a Land Bill, a Natiye Land Bill, a Licensing Bill, and of course the measure dealing with the reform of the Upper House. Still further measures that are spoken of include an amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, a Local Government Bill and a measure dealing with Hindu immigration, besides the usual number of smaller measures. It is only natuial to suppose that with the General Election so close the Government will endeavour to accomplish as much as possible during the coming session so that they can go before the electors and point to their achievements since they have been in office. The Opposition are placed in rather an unenviable posi. tion. They have either to support the present Ministry and assist them in passing the ultra Liberal measures proposed or stand condemned in the eyes of the public as obstructionists, and the publio are apt to judge people and parties more by recent efforts than by past achievements. The Govern* ment bids fair to gain the goodwill and sympathy of the people if it brings forward progressive and beneficial measures and will receive a full measure of oredit from all reasonable and fair minded people for it. Oa the other hand if an organised attempt ie made on the part of the Opposition to I

hinder and obstruct the passing of the beneficial measures for the mere sake of party gain the public will resent it accordingly and will show their resentment in no unoertain manner at the ballot box. The people, who after all are the persons most concerned in the [ matter and who will be the most I affected by the legislation passed will, we imagine, watch very closely the actions of those members who put the interests of their party before those of their country and will act accordingly. Whatever politicians and party leaders may think to the contrary, the publio will agree that legislators must coneider the interests of the country as paramount, and that any measure which is obviously for the benefit of

the country must be supported not* withstanding what the party leaders may wish: This is the fairest, sanest and most reasonable way of governing any country. Personal and party bickerings it is well known result in nothing but harm in looal as well as in general government. If the country is to continue to prosper as it is doing at the present time, beneficial measures must receive general support at the

hands of members however distasteful it may be from the party standpoint. Tne public will then be able to judge the party in power strictly upon its legislative achievements rather than upon the reputation that has been given it by its enemies. Most fair > minded people will, we think, agree that this is the fairest course and one that will be best in the interests of the c ountiy.