PUBLIC OPINION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2519, 4 June 1909, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE CALLING OF PARLIAMENT.

The expediency or otherwise of holding two sessions this year has to he decided, the gift of the Dreadnought and the manner in which the gift was made has to be passed in review, the wasteful expenditure of the past threo years has to.be explained away, the guarantee against miners’ disease which Avas made at the beginning iof the year has to be defended and justified, and,there are a number of other matters which will have to come before Parliament. Whether, the Government desire it or not there is sure to bo d lot of opposition to many of the occurrences during the past twelve months, and it will he interesting to hear the specious arguments which are used to justify the ca ling of this special meeting. Had there been any national calamity such a course, would have been perhaps justifiable, but wo cannot conceive of any other warranting the Executive in summoning an "informal” conference, for it cannot be designated a parliament. —"Mataura Ensign.” "'THE COUNTRY’S CREDIT.”' Our purpose is to awaken the public of this country to the serious danger that exists flor them in the financial methods which have been followed by their. Government for over a dozen years, and we believe that our efforts have not been wasted. It is not a question of dinning-facts into British ears, but of dinning facts into New Zealand ears. The warning by Mr Millar is the best justification of the criticism that has caused so much indignation m the Prime Minister. We believe that even Sir Jtoseph Ward will ere long be forced to admit the truth of our contentions. : He lias already been compelled to admit by his 1 actions the charge of scandalously extravagant administration which w© have constantly urged against the Government, and we have hopes that during the coming session he will bo made even more fully alive to the necessity for the Country returning to sane and sound financial methods.—The "Dominion.” DOMINION’S POPULATION. The Dominion wants population, almost as much as does the Commonwealth —and lor her people -to be leaking through to Australia means the. putting back '.of her clock of progress. The development is all the more, regrettable, inasmuch as, up ti l she found herself in financial straits, the Dominion was in favorable contrast to the Australian States in regard to her increase of population through, inv migration. But while part of her population is preparing to move out of her territory, New Zealand must relax, temporarily at least, her efforts to get other people in. In other words, her immigration machinery probably will have to be eased down almost to stopping point, and. experience abundantly proves that it is a kind or machinery which, when once robbed ot momentum, is difficult to get Info U'co movement again.—" Sydney Morning Herald.” . " , . A REMARKABLE PROPOSAL. Parliament has two questions to an swer: Shall the Prime Minister go to London? and, Shall the sessional arbe upset? To the hrst Parliament can very well answer Yes; to the second, the interests of the clountry demand that it should answoi No. The Prime Minister persists m endeavoring to confuse the issue by mingling- the questions togetiiei, ancl presenting them as being related. Members will do well to keep it hi tbeir minds that the questions are unrc.atecl and should he kept separated.—l ho "Dominion.” THE SETTLEMENT PROBLEM. If the spirit of fielwyn animated our legislation we should not have European settlers heavily taxed and rated to increase the values of Jocked-up native land, and disposing of it to settlers upon special terms winch will cover the Dreadnought bill, and thus make our patriotism wholly advantageous .— ‘‘Auckland Herald.” MR MASSEY’S POSITION.

We. should have no objection to see;n<r Mr Massey himself associated Avith the Prime Minister in the representation of the Dominion at the Conference, and Ave presume from his silence Avlien he Avas questioned on the subject in Auckland that he would, not be altogether averse, to this arrangement. A visit to London just now would broaden his mind on a number of Imperial questions Avhich aie demanding the earnest attention of colonial statesmen, and we have enough, faith in his good sense and patriotism to believe that he would give. Sir Joseph Ward the most cordial assistance m forwarding the best interests- of the Dominion. Perhaps with the Prune, Minister and the leader of the- Opposition both (out of the-way it would be possible for Parliament to sit -at the ordinary time Avithout any tear ot disaster.- ‘lf the tiwo political parties would a°ree to a truce during the absence ot tbeir chiefs they might .get 1 through quite a, lot of useful business.— -Lyttelton Times.”