THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1912. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13455, 28 June 1912, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1912. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The second session of the eighteenth. Parliament of New Zealand, which was ofkmed in due form yesterday, can scarcoly fail to be productive of consequences that will live long in the political history of tho Dominion.- The samo thing was said when Parliament was called together in February, and though that brief session justified the prediction in that it was eventful, it did not dissipate the uncertainty created by the result of the general election. The position will bo determined one way or the other within the next fortnight until the electors are given an opportunity of making their voice heard on the subject. There seems every probability that however, tho assault upon the Government" may: go, it will - mrtftSslr-long until the test'of tEe ballot is applied to the situation.'.. v The -Governor's' Speech does not show very much divergence from the Prime Minister's recent policy declaration at Opunake. Its prevailing tone is its moderation and the absence of highly controversial proposals. It is, of course, not the slightest use pi'Ctending that the present session affords an opportune time for the promulgation of a lengthy logislativo programme. What tho country looks for at present is a speedy termination of tho situation created by tho narrow difference in the strength of tho respective parties, and greater stability of government. There is littlo in the speech that is not likely to commend itself to tho people. The new proposals are almost solely directed, to the. extension, where it has been found to be desirable, of Liberal developmental and social enactments whose worth has been abundantly proved in practice. We are reminded of the attenuation of the Grown lands consequent upon the insatiable demand for small holdings, and the1 necessity for continuing vigorously the policy of acquiring large estates and alienating Native lands for closer- settlement. . In this direction remarkable progress was made during the last financial year, but there is need for still greater activity^ The graduated land tax is to be made more r^'-cre on the higher grades with tho main object of expediting subdivision, and partly also to compensate for remissions of ~* taxation proposed in other directions. The system of graduation is to be altered to allow of lands of low value receiving an abatement, and tlie,graduation of the income tax is to be altered in a similar direction, the higher grades in each case being increased to make up the difference. It is a sound principle, although the individual benefit will not, perhaps bo

considerable, to distinguish for taxation purposes between earned and unearned incomes. , Legislation *s promised for this purpose, providing that earned in-

comes .shall,-boar a smaller burden of taxation than those which' are not earned. Increased exemption in land tax is1 also to be'allowed'to widows and others in straitened circumstances, and a concession will-bo anado to pari ents who have to support families. It is proposed to extend the fruit-growing industry by* opening areas of at present waste lands in the North which can be to profitable account in this direction, and offering financial assistance to settlers upon them. One of the most interesting features of Mr Mackenzie's recent policy speech was his proposal to equip portions of the Dominion in urgent need of improved transport'facilities, but whoro the construction of standard railways presents serious difficulties of any nature, with light railways. The scheme is so eminently practical and so adaptable to the needs of portions of this country which cannot under ordinary circumstances bo served by standard railways for a good many years, that the most satisfactory results might bo expected of it. The light railways would probably be found to satisfy the requirements of the districts they served for many years, and they would be readily convertible into standard lines when the necessity arose. A light line connecting Nelson with Motuoka, for instance, could be inexpensively constructed, and would be a boon to the district. It has also been suggested that Murchison could bo connected with Glenhope in a very short space of time by the samo means, and the point is worth keeping in view in the event of the Government's /proposals being put into practice. Railway reform generally is a matter \y-hich ■moist bo faced, and the changes which are pending in the ordinary courso in the personnel of the higher administrativo staff will present a most opportune time for placing our railway service under expert review and adapting to it the most modern practice of other countries. A measure about which there will be no dispute is the Legislative Amendment Bill, abolishing the second ballot and establishing in its placo a system of preferential voting. The other proposals outlined, on which it is not necessary to go into detail 'at present, are of an equally practical and progressive character. Until the trial of strength is concluded, of-course, the immediate legislative programme of the Government is not the matter which will absorb most interest, though it may have some bearing upon the attitude of certain members whose' intentions remain uncertain. The Leader of the Opposition has intimated his. intention to introduce an amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply, but has given no indication of its terms. The debate will probably commence on Tuesday, and there is every likelihood that it will be an appallingly wearisome reiteration, as the Opposition will be under the necessity of sustaining the discussion for at leasv eight days in order to profit by the vote of Mr Herries, who will not reach the Dominion on his return from England until July 10th. Evidently opinion in Wellington favours the Opposition's prospects in the issue of tho struggle, but oven if tho division gives Mr Massoy the victory his course, from all appearances, will be anything but smooth. An Opposition victory at present would probably be merely the prelude to a dissolution and an early appeal to the country, which is the only satisfactory moans of solving the difficulty.