The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1920. THE THREAT OF A DISSOLUTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17080, 29 June 1923, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1920. THE THREAT OF A DISSOLUTION.

The difficulties which are confronting- Mr Massey in flic conduct of tlie session are .not assisting- iiirn to cultivate the quality of patience. Once more lie is threatening a dissolution, hoping- that the prospect trill induce members to allow him to rush the business of the House thro ugh in a' few weeks. Mr Massey did not sliow to advantage yesterday in liis verbal sparring- witli Mr M’Combs. All that lie could say was that if: a dissolution became necessary lie would ask for it. He was of opinion that he would be properly entitled to it if he could satisfy His Excellency that the Government was not able to g-et on with the business. We do not think that the public will take Mr Massey's dissolution threats at all seriously. In ordinary circumstances lie would regard the present situation without serious perturbati on. Ilis impatience is due to the fact that he wants to get away to London,’and to close up the House before lie leaves. There is a growing feeling- against the practice of Dominion Prime Ministers curtailing- the sessions of Parliament in order that they may leave the country to attend conferences. Strongopposition is being shown in Australia, not to the departure of Mr Bruce for the Imperial Conference, but to the prorogation of the Federal Parliament when there are many matters requiring attention. The Prime Ministers themselves, by their frequent jaunts to London, have taught the people that their presence is not indispensable. If Mr Massey announced that the House would continue to sit in his absence, and that anattempt would be made to deal with current problems, he would probably find that business would proceed more smoothly. Mr Massey’s dissolution talk is too belated. It is winter, and a general election is impossible at this season. There was a time when he could and should have resigned, and that was immediately after the general election, when it was shown that His party was in a minority. Instead of taking the proper and dignified course he hung- on to office like a limpet, and he is being kept there by . three Liberals who pledged themselves to vote against their own party. Some politicians would abandon office rather than hold their tenure on such miserable terms. Mr Massey, however, is not built that way. He has no intention of resigning, and lie will not leave office until he is prised out of it. The humiliation he is experiencing is the inevitable corollary'of his own choice. Our view is that the House is making- a protest against the closing of Parliament before the country's business has bee u- attended to. There is no serious opposition to the departure of Mr Massey for the Conference, and %vo have no doubt that a pair would be found for him if that were desired. It is not right that the first real business session of the House since i ho general election should be cut short.