The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1924. THE SESSION CLOSES.

Southland Times, Issue 19394, 7 November 1924, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1924. THE SESSION CLOSES.

From the viewpoint of new legislation the session which has just closed was not impressive, but the Government has emerged from the examination of its administration with flying colours. The session opened with a number of rumours to suggest the birth of a new political organisation to mark dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister, which was stated to exist in certain places, and there were hints that on such questions as the soldier settlement there would be revelations of the Government’s incompetence, but nothing occurred to disturb the Prime Minister’s calm except the long and rather stupid stonewall on a non-party measure—the Gaming Bill—which was strenuously obstructed by an alliance in which the Labour Party was prominent. The reports presented by the Minister of Lands in connection with the soldier settlers made it clear that the rumours of widespread distress and dissatisfaction were wildly exaggerated, and the Government’s opponents were driven in the end to suggesting that the Returned Soldiers’ Association was acting dishonestly when it expressed its approval of what the Govern- ' ment had done. Remissions in taxation were promised before the Hous© met, and these were duly allowed, with the usual chorus of disapproval from the Labour Benches on the ground that the small taxpayer did not obtain relief in actual cash equal to that accorded the large tax-payer, a fact which must be apparent to all if the remissions are to be justly proportionate. One act of vital importance in the session was the heralding of the end of the State’s interference in business in the shape of the Moratorium, but as the extension of this restrictive legislation is intended to give Parliament another opportunity of reviewing the subject, the end is not yet actually in sight—it is merely foreshadowed. During the session a Government Electoral Bill containing a scheme for the application of Proportional Representation to the cities, and preferential voting to the rural constituencies made a shadowy appearance, being obstructed at the outset by the Labour members who prevented the Bill from reaching the floor of the House. Subsequently a measure in which provision, for the compulsory registration of electors was prominent, and in which no reference was made to the electoral system., was brought down and passed, but assurances were given that durwill he

given members to record their views on Proportional Representation. The report of the Committee on the Liquor Question was placed before the House, and provided an excuse for an interesting discussion, as well as a hint of the direction in which the supporters of the liquor Trade will move if they get thfe chance. If the proposals put forward by the Committee are incorporated in a Bill next year there will be some lively sittings, but it is probable that nothing further will be heard of the more important of the recommendations. In the closing stages of the session the House approved of an item making provision for the maintenance of a second light-cruiser on the New Zealand Station. In some quarters there is objection to the maintenance of cruisers by the Dominion because the two vessels could not defeat the entire Japanese Fleet, but it has to be remembered that these two cruisers in time of war will form a part of the Imperial naval forces in this part of the world, and our acceptance of the charge for them is merely a method of assisting in the cost of maintaining the Empire’s naval forces. The Government’s proposals are endorsed by the Admiralty, and by distinguished naval officers, and the House, therefore, was fully justified in giving its approval to them. The session closed without the provision of legislative safeguards against the incorporation in the “washing-up” of clauses of dubious value, and this is disappointing in view of the opinions expressed at the previous session when there appeared a Bill to ensure that all local legislation of this kind would be given adequate publicity in the districts to which it applied. Taken all in all, the session was productive of very little of moment, except a clear indication that the Government’s position in stronger than it was at the beginning of the year.