The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro." FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1934. THE SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 22362, 29 June 1934, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro." FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1934. THE SESSION

Although the Governoi’-Gen-eral’s Speech, beyond some brief reference to things that have happened, mentions a brief legislative programme, the session which has just opened will be more interesting than this brief statement suggests. The legislative programme does not promise anything seriously contentious, but there are some important questions which the House will wish to discuss. There can be no doubt that the members will survey the operations of the high exchange rate, and it is probable that the Government will be asked to clear up the doubts which still exist concerning the cable sent to London asking if the admission of British manufactures to New Zealand free of duty would lead to the abandonment of all restrictions on New Zealand produce entering Britain. In this country the public was assured that this interrogation was designed to show people here that the two issues were entirely independent; but in Britain the idea persists that this was a definite offer which Mr Thomas, Secretary for the Dominions, rejected. He has been severely criticized foi’ turning down what is described as a proposal for an extension of Empire trade, and it is clear from the British newspapers that the explanation given in New Zealand is not sufficiently known in the Old Country to protect the British Ministers from attacks by the Imperial Preference advocates. It is desirable that this matter should be cleared up, and there are members in the House who will welcome an authoritative statement to abolish all doubt. There are signs, too, that some of the members will be eager to press on the Government the desirability of a forward policy in connection with the domestic situation, and an effort will be made to bring about an increase in the money circulating within the Dominion in order to stimulate local trade. Evidently the treatment of the unemployment question is to undergo a change. It is too much to say that the Unemployment Fund, and its special taxation, is to go; but it is probable that efforts will be made to encourage the transfer of men from the relief works to regular employment on standard rates of pay, with the idea of attacking the unemployment problem. The downward trend of the unemployment figures and the buoy-

ancy of the public accounts encourage the hope that something will be done in this direction. Although it has done excellent work, receiving little gratitude for its efforts, the Unemployment Board has been concerned all the while with palliatives. Its purpose has been to give relief to people out of work, and at no stage was the solution of the unemployment problem part of its functions. The attack on the unemployment problem can be made only through industry and public works and it is to be hoped that Parliament in the session just opened will have the opportunity to consider practical schemes for the return of men and woman to regular employment. This is one of the most important of the tasks confronting Parliament, and the session will not be satisfactory if it ends without achieving something in this direction.