“GET TOGETHER!”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18613, 8 July 1930, Page 11

“GET TOGETHER!”

THE TIME IS NOW. WILL PARTY LEADERS ACT? (By “Searchlight” in the “Evening Post”). If anything of a practical nature is to be achieved by Parliament this session in grappling with the economic and social ills afflicting the Dominion, some drastic action will have to be taken soon. With the inauguration of the Adress-in-Reply debate a real start has been made with the sessions work, which, however, should not consist of lip service. While on the Government's own figures, published last week, there are over 5000 men in the Dominion seeking work, and executive heads of businesses are searching diligently for a way out of our difficulties, members of Parliament have been haggling over the question of the appointment of a Chairman of Committees, and the Prime Minister had to threaten a General Election unless the Government nominee was elected. It is significant that the prime movers in the Reform “protest” against the appointment of Mr Bodkin were Messrs H. S. S. Kyle and A. M. Samuel, who were much in the limelight last session in ail the undignified shamfighting that created such a bad impression in the public mind at that time. If party bitternesses are to be allowed free rein in a small matter like this kind, what is to be expected when issues of greater moment arrive? A Truce Demanded. Unless the politicians are informed | immediately that the public do not desire a continuation of party warfare this session, at any rate between the United and Reform Parties, the unseemly spectacle of last session may be repeated. The party leaders must be told firmly that the country demands a truce in what in the present state of the Dominion really amounts to in--1 ternecine strife. Grave problems require urgent consideration, but that 1 cannot be given in a rancorous atmosphere. Further, if certain politicians, i with ready tongues, intend to seek ’ notoriety, then the prospect of effective work being done by anybody but ' the journalists will be poor. What New Zealand desires now is • stability and leadership. If nothing , striking in the way of leadership is to i be obtained from either the Reform or > United Parties, regarded as separate i entities, perhaps more may be expectr ed from them if they combine to give r dispassionate attention to urgent ques- , tions. The first essential is to get ■ them to come together. Cannot some r means be devised of telling the party , leaders that the people expect them i to do their duty by sinking their dim- ; inutive differences and join forces so - as to put the country on the road , to prosperity once more? 1 If such a National Government . could be formed at short notice in this time of crisis, would Mr Holland still be prepared to shorten the Address--7 in-Reply debate, and would he, by curbing the talkative proclivities of his j supporters at such a time, show a 5 readiness to make of Parliament, not ' a mere debating society, but a real National Economic Council? Frank or Embarrassing? Mr Holland asked the Prime Minister if he would consult with the Leader of the Opposition and himself with a view to concluding the Address-in-Reply debate this week, so that - next week the House might proceed with the important legislation bearing upon unemployment, and also other business of an urgent nature. This is not the first time such a question has been asked of a Prime Minister, '. and it is often prompted by a desire to embarrass a Government which is c looking for such breathing time as a ; long Address-in-Reply debate and a a, lengthy Financial debate affords in 3 which to get its legislation ready. It e was unfortunate that Mr Forbes _ should have replied “that they must ; recognise that many members had ; matters which they considered of [’ importance to bring up in that de--2 bate,” for that is the stereotyped form „ of reply to such a question, and it is i hoary with age. Former Prime Minf isters its non-committal . value, and members soon showed that parochial politics were what they , considered of importance to bring up. 3 It is to prevent such waste of time a this year, so as to get to early consideration of matters which the country considers of importance, that [ the two main parties should come tot gether now. Are the Prime Minister . and the Leader of the Opposition prepared to consider immediate action I in the matter?