The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, DEC. 10, 1897.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, DEC. 10, 1897.

After a severe struggle of several weeks duration, including numerous ail night sittings the Old Age Pensions Bill has emerged safely from the House of Representatives, but with many indelibile marks of 'he fury of the conflict through which it there had to pass. What may be its fate in the Uppe.r Chamber to which it has now been sent it is impossible to predict. No one would be safe to stake his monoy on a coming evont at a race meeting merely on his knowledge of the previous performances of the horses entered and of their relative strength and fleetnes?. It would be necessary that he shouH also know the direction in which the pecuniary interests of their respective owners tend, the honesty of the riders and numerous othor controlling circumstances. Something similar is it with the passage of a bill through either house of legislature. The merits or demerits of the measure seem to have but very little influence over its fate. The main confederation is as to how its acceptance or rejection will affect (he strength of 11 parties " and the pecuniary interests of the members. Tho question of the Old Age Pensions Bill in the Council has been discussed by the press representatives in Wellington. These gentlemen remain in the House throughout tho session, carefully note all that transpires, form intimate acquaintance with members in the. committee room's, the lobbies and elsewhere, and are cognizant of the many influences that nro at work. But in the present case the- influences arc so varied and so uncertain that the fate of the bill is a complete pnzzle even to the astute gentlempn referred to. The position is explained to be somewhat as follows : If the appointments of members of the Council had been for life, as formerly, then they would have been left free togive effect to their own unbiassed opinions regarding the measure — they would then have, voted according to their consciences and it is believed that in this case the bill wonld have been given a short shrift ; it would at once have been rejected. But the tenure of office of councillors is now limited and that of a number will shortly expire. Should they now vote against a Government measure and should Mr Seddon continue Premier till after the expiry of their term of office, then they could have but little hope of obtaining roappointmenf. On the other hand should they vote in favor of the bill and the opposition get into power before their office expires they could scarcely advance any very strong party claim for reappointmenf'. Their vote will thus depend on the opinion they may arrive at **s to the length of time the present Government may yet continue in power. But a further element must be taken into account in considering the ultimate fate of the bill. Tt is said and believed by many in Wellington that Mr Sfddon does not wish the bill to pasp. He recognises that his influence in the House and in the country is on the wane, that his position is daily becoming less secure and he is looking out for a good cry with which to go to the country when the inevitable defeat occurs. The Old A^e Pensions Bill would afford such a cry. The beneficiaries under the bill would chiefly be of the working clas=f, while the funds would mainly fall to be paid by settlers and land proprietors generally so that the measure would be popular with thp class possessing the larger number of votes and thus an appeal to the. country with a pensions cry migl.t materially influence a further term of office. Thr-re is also (he consideration that if the bill fails to pass in thp Council the Premier would no doubt make, this an excuse for an application to the Governor for fresh appoint inents to the council so that the "pclicy of the country ' might be given practical effect. Supposing the appointment of an additional six councillors was sanctioned, probably a hundred persons throughout the country would receive half promises of the coveted honor and emolument and their active support would thus bo secured throughout the election. It is possible, therefore, that the Premier may so arrange matters with his followers in the Council that the bill will be defeated by the smallest possible majority. It would be a simple matter for a few of the " Liberals " to

assume an indapendfent attitude for the nonce and vote against their chief's measure. They would very well understand each other. — But what we wish to call special attention to is the atato of extreme degredation the Parliament of the country has now reached, all through the abuse of party tactics. Here is a measure involving the country in an additional outlay of hundreds of thousands of pounds yearly for all time while its safe passage or rejection is dependent entirely on how it may affect "parties" in Parliament — how it may affect the stability of the Government and the fortunes of their adherents. The character of the measure has very little to do with the question ; party and individual interests overshadow every other consideration. Surely it is high time the electors of the country were setting about finding a remedy for this dangerous state of affairs.