The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1919. RECONSTRUCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14023, 28 March 1919, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1919. RECONSTRUCTION

When our two political leaders left New Zealand to attend the Peace Conference we predicted that their absence from the country at a time when so many questions were daily arising which required consideration must necessarily cause trouble and lead to idiscontent. We think that most people have had experience ..of the trouble and have felt the discontent. If, however, any doubt on this point jjhould still exist, the Hon. G. W. Russell has settled it by his statement of the difficulties which the members of the Government experience in dealing with the problems connected with the country’s change from a state of war to a state of peace. He joints out that loyalty to colleagues prevents any member of the. Coalition Cabinet from putting forward views on the policy which should be adopted. In the opinion of many people loyalty should have kept him from saying what most people think, but which hardly comes with a good grace from a member of the Cabinet. Putting aside, however, that aspect of the question, there can be no doubt that he has pointed out a possibility which would be very serious if realised. He anticipates that on the return of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward a general election will be held, and that the House then elected will not meet until the ordinary date, which would be about June, 1920, and he says very truly that it would be a disaster if the work of reconstruction should on that account be delayed for. so long.

The plain truth of the matter is, of course that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward should not have both gone to the Peace Conference, and it is even doubtful whether either should have gone. That is not to say that we should not be'represented, as we recognise the immense importance of our interests being looked after, and we consider that we are entitled to a voice in the general settlement in proportion to our standing. But there was no necessity for such representation being confined to the Prime Minister, and we have always held that this was a mistake in the constitution of the Imperial Council. It will be felt in each of the self-governing Dominions, but is accentuated with us by the fact of the two heads of a Coalition Government being away together.. The representation of the Dominion should have been extended to a Minister Who could give the whole of his time and abilities to it; and it should not be undertaken by the Prime Minister of any country.,. Admitting as we' do the importance of the business of the Peace Conference, we contend that the internal business, the domestic concerns of the country, are of even greater importance, particularly at a period of reconstruction such as should now exist, but which has, unfortunately, not yet begun. Our constitution is such that no questions of policy can he dealt with in the absence of the Prime Minister, while reconstruction is so largely a matter of finance that the presence of the Minister of Finance is requisite, particularly where lie occupies so commanding a position in this respect as Sir Joseph Ward does. The country has incurred obligations very much larger than any previously existing. So long as the present prices are maintained, the burden is not felt in full force, but if prices recede we shall undoubtedly come to realise that we have shouldered a heavy responsibility. It is therefore, of the' utmost importance ,that: production I 'Should be encouraged tp the utmost. So far, how-, ever, front being encouraged, it 1$ actually hampered by the maintenance' of the rpstrictions imposed during the war. ls Tlifes'e restrictions were in some cases no doubt requimi, although \va think that ; some of ."stnem have prdbably done more harm than good from the first. We do not know, however, what justification there is for their continuance. Our position is not the same as that of Great Britain, which imports food and raw material, and maintains control of these because there is not enough to go round. Our imports are of manufactured goods, and are only limited by the difficulty

of obtaining supplies. After all, the Government has not attempted to divide barbed wire amongst the many who would purchase if the price were lower, for an attempt to fix prices would simply curtail importation. The Mortgage Extension Act has prevented many men from taking up farms, and continues to prevent them, yet we are told that it must remain for six months after the formal declaration of peace. Yet, docs anyone think that the situation will be very different then from now. It is questionable whether any hardship would have resulted if the Act had never been passed, and certainly at the present time it is doing much more harm,Than good. There never. AVas so much , money in deposit with the banks as at present, and there is”,no reason to doubt that sonic of this would be availab'e for mortgages, where they were called up. 'At present, the money is lying with the banks;:, and earning nothing for the owner, though the banks are doubtless investing some of it in short-dated British securities, to their own immense profit. This is one of the forms in which Government apathy hinders reconstruction. Again people want to know the form which the taxation of the future is to lake, for there are enterprises which may be undertaken or not according to the way in which they are treated. Our soldiers are rapidly returning, and there avIII be difficulty in finding speedy employment if land development is hindered. We should' he anxiously looking for our share of those members of the British army whose thoughts will turn to emigration rather than to a return to the office or the factory. It is, however, no use to invite emigration if there is to be trouble about finding employment for our own men. Yet there will be trouble’unless production is increased and land development stimulated and these things will not take place without Government action. Meantime the paralysis continues, and we think that the Acting-Prime Minister might well demand authority to proceed as if he were in charge, and put the necessary business through in a short session, and call a general election. The attention of the country has been absorbed by the Liquor Referendum, or there would have been an outcry before now', but it is certain that if we continue to let the time pass we shall have bitter cause to regret it before very long.