"STRATFORD EVENING POST" THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1929. THE SESSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 27 June 1929, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1929. THE SESSION.

PARLIAMENT is meeting for the transaction of business, and the session is likely to bo unique in the history pf tho Dominion in as much as Parliament has on the Treasury Benches, a. Ministry in a minority without any possibility of avoiding such a condition. However,- Sir Joseph Ward is enabled to adhere to his policy with an assurance that it will command support from one or other •of the political wings. He is under no necessity to make 1 big concessions i to either. Another point in his favour 'is that there is no prospect of ! tho Reform Party and. the Labour . Party combining to remove his Minisi try from olrice, for such a course would be. without gain to either, and ; wouid involve an appeal to tiTe~country, which is not wanted by either, | and would not be acceptable to the ! electors. Though the United Ministry is in a minority in the House, it : is still in a strong position. To begin 1 with, it is the only Ministry possible in the House, and if defeated would have a right to a dissolution and' an appeal to the country. Then there is a widespread desire hi *both tho ' House and the country that Sir Joseph Ward and his highly competent Ministers shall have an opportunity to make good, and inaugurate a new era of political advance and commercial and industrial prosperity for the Dominion. The country wants such a movement forward. It was bocause the people were sick of a policy of waiting upon Providence that they sent tho numerically strong Reform Government to the right-about .at the general election and called for a change of guides and controllers. The Ward Ministry is the outcome ol that desire, and it will be found that the majority of the House will be ready to gratify the wishes of tho I people. But ail! this notwithstanding, the Government has "a hard row to hoe." It has to face a financial position such as has not arisen in the ■ Dominion for a. great many years. A j deficit between revenue and expendituro of over a quarter of a million ' has to he met, and measures have to he devised for avoiding the recurrence of such an unfavourable experience. Two means are available f°'" the attainment of the desired end — the reduction of expenditure and tho,

imposition of additional taxation. That there is room for economy cannot bo disputed, for the cost of admmrstn*, tion has grown to a great extent under Reform auspices. But it may be regarded as. impossible to effect such savings as will bridge the big gap between revenue and expenditure. The position is aggravated by the abnormal amount of unemployment throughout the Dominion, and the need for providing means whereby workless people can earn sufficient money to keep the wolf from the door. It may also 'be teQiicluded that the )d?sastrous earthquake will add to the Government's embarrassments. All things considered", Psv Joseph Ward and his colleagues are not to ho envied the task that lies before them. They will require the sympathy and co-operation of the House regardless of party.