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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 264, 10 December 1930, Page 6

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If tlxe three parties in Parliamenfc xvere brought together would the country be governed more wisely than ib is to-day? In another portion of this issu6 we give an extensive r.eview of the economic position in this Dominion as viewed by Sir James Gunson, one of Auckland's foremost business men and for many years Mavor of that city. Of outstanding interest are Sir James' suggestions for a readjustment and co-ordination of the phlitical seetioiis as represented in Pal'liument. The idea of a Coalition Cabinet l'epresentative of all parties is not without merit, but is it practical? Even the recent overtures from Mr Coates for a fusion of the United ahd Keform parties met with severe criticism from Mr Coates' own suppofters. It is hetd in some quarters that there is no fundamental difference between the Uhited and Reform parties. This, of course, is absurd. The land question alone would debar any union of the two parties, apart from many other considerations. And what of the Labour Party ? Would the Labour Party be prepared to join forces with either Onited 07 Eeform? We doubt such a decision. Painful though the pi'Ocess must be, there must come not only a lowering of land values, standards ef living and production costs generally, but a eontinuation of present conditions must inevitably bring about a lowering of wages all rouhd. One leading firm in New Zealand with branches in the four oentres has already effected an economy of £8000 per annum by simplv lowering ihe wages of its huge staff to the Arbitration Court award rates. Would the Labour Party as portion of a Coalition Cabinet agree to the lowering of wages? This point alone, we believe,- would prove the stumbling blocli on which there would cwish the great ideals Sir James Gunson has endeavoured to set out for the country in its present crisis. The proposed suspension of the Arbitration Act, which was strenuouslv advocated by members of the T^abour Party several years ago, woulcl just as strenuously be opposed to-day. And so far as the Arbitration Court is eoncerned it has not yet been invited to suspend or even readjust any award in consequence of the prevailing conditions. It will therefore be time to condemn the Court when it shows itself incompetent to adjudicate on the very grounds for which it was set up. N either a coalition nor a moratorium will cure the ills of the farmer. The low rates for primary produce in the markets of the world a^'e the sole cause of our economic depression. That we have for years been living at a rate far beyond our legitimate means is now more apparent than it was twelve months ago, and for coping with excessive and unnecessary expenditure we must look to Parliament to govern more wisely than it has been doing, but even ]?arliament, with all the powers of legislation, cannot eftect a remedy for the ills that beset.the country. The faniiers of New Zealand and the whole of the people of this Dominion for that matter are entirely in the hands of outside vested interests over whom they have not the slightest control. Our kleat Board. and our Dairy Control Bonrd, to whom we might, m a crisis like this, reasonnbly look for a solution of our difiiculties, are but thin voices crying in a Avilderness of low prices. We can ease our internal position by lowering land values, by lowering wages and cesxsing party bickering and coalescing, all ot which mav even yet corue about, but can we obtain for our farmers adequate remuneration for their labours on the land? That is the great question the country has to face. It is in the directioU of our marketing overseas that our energies should be concentrated.