Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1935. DOMINION POLITICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18759, 16 July 1935, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1935. DOMINION POLITICS

The announcement that Parliament is to reassemble on August 29 for the final session of its four-year term is likely to be overshadowed by the report that t lie general elect inn will be jio Id either at the end of November or tin' beginning of December. In the same way, the interest of members in the real work of the session is likely to be diminished hv the temptation to regard debates as an opportunity for a pre-election campaign, and the consideration of such measures as arc introduced may suffer from an impatience to get to the hustings. Whatever the attitude of the House, however, the session will lie one of the utmost imparlance, not so much, perhaps, because of the legislation that will be introduced as because of the definite indication that will be given to the country of the advance that has been made towards recovery, and as a result of which the Government will be able to submit a programme that will appeal almost spectacular by comparison with those nf recent years.. It is no mere accident that the Government is in this l:nppv position in election year, tor the .situation is the outcome of the Mini of rehabilitation which it was returned by the people with mandate to adopt. In many respects the policy was unpopular and unpalatable and it would be useless to deny Hint, ia consequence, there was a good deal of antagonism towards the Coalition. It is equally clear, however, that since the policy has so largely been justified by results the opposition and criticism have tended to disappear, ami it is possible that were the Hie of Parliament, not so .short there would be a very decided .swing of public feeling towards the administration. As it is, the Government will almost certainly increase its support. with every week that elapses between now and the elections. It is important, nevertheless,... that, the

utmost care should be taken to ensure that the work of the coining session i.s conducted in the most efficient manner possible. That there will be factious opposition may be taken for granted; and it is not unlikely that members on all sides of the House will be inclined to indulge in electioneering tactics. The Government will be wise, therefore, to include in its programme only essential measures and t.o endeavor to have the business transacted with despatch. It will not be necessary for contentious proposals to be advanced for political purposes, for nothing can react to the benefit of the Government more than a pi * n statement of the progress that has been made and the adoption of such steps as arc almost inevitable as a result of it. Compared with the previous year, the finances of the Dominion have improved to the extent of £-1,000,000, and there is every indication that a further substantial advance .will be made during the current vear. It is probable, therefore, even allowing for last year’s windfalls. that the Government will be in a position to grant relief to the extent of approximately £5,000,000, and it will be surprising if the forthcoming Budget is not the brightest for very ninny years. It is inevitable that some of the burdens will be lilted from the shoulders of the people. Substantial relief from taxation may be forecast with confidence, and it is equally certain that members of the Civil Service will benefit from the restoration of a further part of the salary reductions. On the other side, the Government will be able to announce a general increase in. State activities, since larger sums should be available out of revenue for public works, while the possibility of borrowing on a limited scale must not. bo overlooked. There can be no doubt that the country is making rapid strides towards recovery, and no Government can afford to miss the opportunity of giving the movement all the impetus of which it is capable. The Coalition, or National Tarty, certainly should emerge from the session with its prestige much restored, and its next task will Iks to approach (lie electors and convince them that, on its record, apart from anything it is able to promise, it is entitled to a renewed vote of confidence. In this connection, it seems likely that some difficulties may arise from the splitting of votes occasioned by an unusual crop of new parties and independent candidates, li is interesting to recall that at the last election, when the- issues were clearly defined, no fewer than IS candidates were elected on minority voles, in one case, in fact, a member was returned with only 31 per cent of the votes recorded, and in two other eases the proportion of votes secured was less than 40 per cent. Another undesirable feature is that only 8.1 per cent of the electors on the roll voted at all, and in many instances the registering of a full vote might have altered the result. The success of the democratic system depends upon the extent to which an election result truly represents public opinion, and since there is a danger of ibis not being the position under the present •method it is time that careful consideration was given to the possibility of reforms. Tit this connection it might be advisable if the Government took steps during t ho coming session to provide, firstly, for compulsory voting, and, secondly, for the adoption of the system of preferential voling, which apparently seems to operate with success in Australia. Since no individual member and no party can claim a desire to be returned on a minority vote, legislation in this direction should meet with uunrii mous support in the House, and it could not be more opportune than at a time like the present when a 'plethora of candidates is in prospect, and apathy, to say the least of it, is not conspicuous by its absence.