THE PREMIER'S DEPARTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7319, 4 February 1902, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S DEPARTURE.

The announcement made yesterday concerning th,e date of the Premier's departure for England ought to have the effect of putting an end to the conjectures that have been current recently with regard to the opening of Parliament. There. can be little reason to suppose now that 'there will be either an early session, or a special one. If the Premier contemplated either he would assuredly have talien the public into his confidence, and told them, so when he announced the date of his departure from

the colony. Our readers will re-collect that we have never been among those who have advocated a special session, but we have always expressed ourselves in favour of . an early one. Indeed, we will go as far as to say thafc the Parliament invariably^ assembles later than is expedient for the welfare of the country. We 'think that ifc would be for the best- interests of the colony if, for the first and second sessions of a Parliament, the Honse were called together during the first week in May, and if for the last session, an even earlier date were chosen. Such anarrangement would facilitate the despatch of biirines*j and enable members to return, to their homes before the spring had well advanced, and in the case of a last session would give them ample time to prepare for the election campaign. If Mr Seddon had chosen to call members together before his departure for England he would have served a double object. As we have said already, he would have assured the session being over ia plenty of time . before* the general elections, and he would also have had the satisfaction of putting the business of the country in motion before leaving on his holiday. But the Premier, apparently, has chosen a different course, and although, for the reasons which wo have just given, we regret that he has done so, we are bound ta admit that, after all, ifc does not matter very much. He will leave the affairs of the colony in the capable hands of Sir Joseph Ward, and the latter will, no doubt, take care that the session is not prolonged, so unduly thafc it will interfere with the elections. .