"WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE?"

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 17

"WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE?"

Sir, —I sincerely hope the electors have taken, note of tho doings of Parliament recently. It is certainly a stiff contract for them to follow up the progress of the-multiplicity of Bills which havo been introduced, read,"--' in . most cases scarcely studied or debated;-ah'd-passed iir terrific'hasto into-laViv"'Jl know tho electors are-highly interested in tho doings of the Hine Commission, 'and<perhaps their are thereby diverted from, tho Bills being passed . in Parliament. However, it is •to ,be hoped that Tun Dominion,will. ?.t .the end of the session publish a completol summary of the Acts passed, with particulars of each. The electors can then •analyso' them, -.and -en- ' dca'vQur to find wliy they were'passed' and whoso interest was .served in the passing. Why all this rushing of Bills, through tho legislative mill at tho last.' weeks of,the session? Perhaps the reason is this: Tho Prime Minister will be-, duo at the Coronation ceremonies next year, and ho will ■ consequently_be un-' able to do. much legislative work in tlio House between tho tinio of .-his return' from England and''tho dateJflf'tlie.;gcjfc! oral elections. His this ycar'.af.aqhiey.e:-} mcnts will therefore suffice as weapons to brandish in tlio coining electoral battle. The statute book has gained in bulk. It will oil analysis that ■ the major portion of the session's additions is—only bulk, similar to the Gaming Aet of two years ago, which is nowbeing wiped.out. A similar fate awaits somo of this year's tinkering legislation. A change, in Government -is. tho only salvation, by which the people of this, country can hope to be saved from . the harassing, worthless, and unjust legislation that has been inflicted upon - them the last few years.. I hold tho opinion that tho new Licensing Act is only, a move to endeavour to silence tho extreme parties—Prohibitionists and' ! liquor dealers. Tho general public,' who deplore the cursed sido of tho. liquor traffic, will not be satisfied with it generally. .The only redeeming feature is the clauso. prohibiting the supplying of liquor to young hoodlums under-- 21 years of age.- .There will not bo..many. . tears over the barmaid's exit.'- 'Sh&iwiii: ! soon be an unknown quant-ity,, as th'c : ' . proviso enabling' a licensee's'"'wifiFor daughter to serve in tho bar- will ;r not largely bo talcen advantago" of. ■ : The hotelkccper generally sees to it that his womenfolk do not take on thoso -duties. I havo always held a measure of re-; speefc for tho Prohibitionist when lie was aiming to correct tho r.buses existing, but the way some of tho Prohibitionist M.P.'s havo been acting of late will alienate that esteem. My quarrel with • them consists in their agreeing to the elimination of the reduction issue-from the voting paper. Tho general public are the sufferers because; they are de-' prived of the power which enabled them to secure the closing of many of tho.undoßirablo publichouses, connected with' which aro many of tho evils of, the liquor traffic. At the Town-Hall tlio. Rev. Sernoll spoke bitterly of the' injury he suffers through living in' ! a local-' ity which, is-in an unfavourabla stat^'as"'' regards tlio drink traffic..' 1 hold' .that: . it is unfair for. the revorend-.gentieniari. to. hold up his district as a samplo oftho whole, city;. Ho didn't, stato -hisviews on tho reduction question, ' although he - r.ttended .the meeting prr>- ; sumabiy to signify his agreement'to the passing of tho Act. The general mibiic can gain no satisfaction from tho recent legislation. A change of. Administration is tho only cure, and assuredly wowill soon havo that.—l am, etc., ACUITY. [This letter jias been delayed in publication.] . 1