The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1926. FROM THE THRONE

Southland Times, Issue 19899, 18 June 1926, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1926. FROM THE THRONE

It is customary to complain that the Governor-General’s speech to Parliament at the opening of its session is an uninteresting document giving no indication of the Government’s legislative programme and containing items of minor importance. Habituated to statements of this sort some of the party critics will probably be caught because the speech which was read to Parliament in the unfortunate absence of Sir Charles Fergusson, disclosed quite a number of very important items of Mr Coates’s programme, and gave the members information to show that in spite of the prophecies, the session is not going to be without solid material for their attention. The government proposes to bring down measures for the consolidation of existing legislation, but there will be other bills introducing principles new to this country and of these none will be more important than that which is designed to change the constitution of the University of New Zealand as suggested by the University Commission. The government proposes to repeal the whole of the existing legislation and in the new measure to change the system by installing a federal university. This will give the colleges greater freedom in the control of their own affairs, but will not give them independence enough to make outright competition between the units possible. It is possible that some .efforts may : be made to carry on the provincial combats I when this Bill is before the House, but it is to be hoped that the proposals are carefully scanned because the changes proposed are not insignificant. The government evidently is following closely the lines laid down by the University Commission, a course of action that is refreshing after so many years of commission reports which were received only to be forgotten. It is clear, too, that the Heath report is to ■ be made the basis of legislative action with j the idea of effecting the organisation of scientific research as an aid to the primary i and secondary industries of the Dominion, i Sir Frank Heath’s proposals involve the creation of a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research similar to that now functioning in Britain and it is to be presumed that Mr Coates intends to take the initial steps in connection with this scheme. The licensing law is to be re-opened, but the government will probably present proposals as non-party measures, and leave the House unfettered, but he will not be able to disassociate himself wholly from the amendments he presents to Parliament, as he will quickly find out if the antagonists in the liquor battle get the chance to let him know. Mr Coates proposes to tighten the national government’s hold on local body borrowing in the interests of national credit, and this is desirable as long as it does not give to a nervous or crassly conservative ministry’ the power to hamper municipalities who are in a position to borrow and require money for essential works. It is not wise to give the State too much power in dealing with the operations of local bodies. There is to be no | reduction in the taxation, because the gov- ! eminent anticipates a fall in the revenue I during the current year, and it will also I have to prepare for a further fall under some headings during the next financial year. It is worthy of note that the efforts of the government are not to b,e confined to keeping the revenue up because the Governor-General’s speech refers to the appointment, of a special committee to 1 report on and suggest proposals to be taken j in connection with economies and the conj trol of expenditure. This looks like the I adoption of an “axe” committee to show • the government how the expenditure can |be further reduced. Its report will be l awaited with interest, because it will unI doubtedly lead to protests from the depart- ■ men to affected. The introduction of econI omies theoretically is a simple matter, but j in practice economy proposals meet with i receptions somewhat similar to those given ’to a snail that crawls into a bee-hive. A Town-planning Bill which has been ; “approaching” for a very long time is j destined to reach the House this year. This • measure does not seek to undo anything .of the past, but it does set out with the idea of building a system of control which will protect the future against further misi takes in the planning of our towns. Something of the sort has been wanted for many years, but this will be the first chance the , . House has had to consider a scheme of this . kind. It is to be hoped that members will . be. sufficiently seized of the importance of ■ this subject to give the measure the cordial reception it deserves. Though the commis- ! sion sent abroad to • study systems of rural I credits and agricultural banks- will be back before the session closes there does not 1 seem to be much hope of legislative action this year. The commission’s report should i be available, however, and the members will need time for its study. Mr Coates has shown that he is not going to be rushed into any legislation dealing with this sub- > ject, and it is therefore extremely unlikely that he will seek any decisive action this session. These are the most prominent ' items for the future mentioned in the 1 | Governor-General’s speech* and when they I are weighed dispassionately they make quite . | an impressive array, suggesting that if the I members take their duties seriously the I government’s programme will give them • ample opportunities to make this session important in the history of this country.