PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18875, 20 February 1933, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY PROGRESS

The Dominion Parliament has now been in session for nearly four weeks, and during that period only one important piece of legislation has been placed on the Statute Book. That was the Bill indemnifying the banks for any loss which might be sustained as a consequence of the raising of the exchange rate. One other important provision has been introduced, namely the Sales Tax Bill, the passing of which is assured sooner or later —its ultimate acceptance depending upon the endurance of the Opposition and the persistence of the Government.

The most striking feature of the session has been the sluggishness of effort which has characterised the actions of the Government, and also the futile behaviour of the Opposition in making what it fondly imagines to be an heroic stand against inevitable legislation. The country is an unenviable position, and the medicine is, of necessity, far from pleasant. But the people as a whole would prefer to the see the nasty business over and done with as soon as possible. In consequence there is a general feeling of impatience at the slow progress being made, and to this will be added disgust at the methods more recently adopted by certain members of the Opposition, and cx-membcrs of the Government.

Rapid progress is desirable for many reasons, not the least of which is the saving in expense if Parliament can complete its financial proposals with the utmost despatch. The present session was originally intended as an emergency, measure to deal with very vital and pressing problems, but the unforgivable sin of “ wasting time ” has been committed in so many directions, that it begins to look as if the Dominion must once again resign itself to a double sessional expenditure.

Of the interludes provided last week by Mr P. Fraser and Mr R. A. Wright, it is difficult to say anything that it not condemnatory. Mi 1 Wright has no reason to feel proud of the insinuations he made against members of the Cabinet, and whatever may have been the rights and wrongs of the case, an emergency session is not the place for venting them. It is to be hoped that the rebuke administered by Mr Coates will prove effective. Of Mr Fraser’s behaviour it may be possible that most of it was inspired by the heat of the moment, and the incident was satisfactorily closed.

It should hardly be necessary, however, to point out to our elected legislators that Parliament is not a wrestling contest, and that “gallery play” is neither dignified nor useful.