The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1912. THE SESSION AND AFTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1912. THE SESSION AND AFTER.

-♦ There has been some sptHJiilatiou aa to the. probable duration of the session when Parliament meets next month. The idea-seems to exist in some quarters that the ordinary business of Parliament will be proceeded with; that is to say, that policy measures will be introduced and dealt with, and a session extending over three or four months be held. This, of course, is not the case. The session will be a very short one, but exactly how short will depend on whether or not the Ward Government resigns before Parliament meets, and, if it does not, whether any large proportion of _ members decide to speak on the inevitable want-of-confldence motion. We have expressed the-opinion on a previous occasion that the Ward Government will not face _ Parliament: that it will relinquish office without a test vote being taken. It will not do this from any sense 01 duty, but because defeat is certain in one form or another, and it will resign as a matter of tactics, hoping to embarrass Mn. Massey thereby. In 1891, when the new Parliament met after the elections, at which the Atkinson Government was defeated, the session lasted less than a week. It is interesting to note in passing that the Governor's Speech on that occasion expressed regret at the necessity for summoning members at an unusual and inconvenient season (January 23), and proceeded: "The i'general election having taken place, my late Advisors deemed it necessary ! that, having regard to the uncertainty of the strength of parties, Parliament should be called together at the earliest possible opportunity; but prior to the opening of Parliament they tendered their resignations and a, new Administration has been formed." The position to-day resembles to some extent that which_ existed in 1891, although at that time there were practically only 'two parties, the Labour party being in close alliance with the Ballance'party. According to a dispatch dated January 2G, sent by Lord Onslow, the then Governor, to the Colonial Office, Sir Harry Atkinson did not actually tender his resignation until the day on which Parliament was to meet, although some days previously ho appears to have intimated to his Excellency this probable course of action. The dispatch reads: "On the 23rd instant Sir Harry Atkinson called on me at one o'clock in the afternoon, when, upon the advice of Ministers, I appointed him to be Speaker of the Legislative Council and administered to him the usual oath; and at the same time he formally tendered to me the resignation of himself, and, of course, of his colleagues also." Half an hour later, that is at L.'iO o'clock, Mr. Bai.lance was s-ent for and undertook the duty of forming an Administration, which the first test vote taken showed could command a majority of 7 votes. The session, which opened on January 23, 1891, wa: ad'iourned until January 27, and closed finally on January 30. The actual sitting days numbered five,, and nractically the only business transacted, apart from the election of the Sneaker and the Chairman of Committees, was the answering of questions and the debate on the Address-in-Roplv to His Excellency's Speech. 'Mr. Ballance, when pressed on January 28 as to his intentions, made it perfectly clear that he did not think it desirable to deal with anything that session but formal matters. "With regard to the length of the session." lie said, we hope to be able to bring the session to a close before the end of next week. The Government do not' intend to take any extraordinary business this session. We hope to bring down as complete a policy as possible next session, and to give effect to the expression .of the will of the country." In other words, he declined to be rushed, and Parliament was eventually prorogued until June 11 in order to enable the new Government to bring down its policy in as complete form as possible The same course may be expected to be pursued on the present occasion. If the Ward Government does not follow the example of the Atkinson Government and voluntarily resign it will simply mean that it will be defeated on a. want-of-confidencc motion and be forced to do so. The Government has lived so long by trickery that there are people who cannot even now believe that it will not trick the country and cling to office by some means or other. This is very foolish._ There is a limit even to such trickery, and the Ministerial following know.; well enough that that limit lias been reached. Moreover, now that the crasli lias come there arc those even amongst the supporters of the Government who recognise that an overhaul of the country's affairs by an independent set of men cannot fail to produce some good results, and that the people expect this overhaul to take place. The Labour members, after the defeat of the Administration, which most of them have so outspokenly condemned, will see that the only reasonable course is to assist to secure that full and searching investigation into the finances of the

>• Dominion which fur so ninny years has been rendered ini|n>ssihli'' liy Hie continuance in ollicc nf ih t . 'same ['_ little circle of politicians. Jt is of course difficult io estimate tin; , amount of talk Unit members will think it necessary to indulge in before finally casting their votes, but we shall he surprised if the coming session extends over a fortnight, and at the end of that period there will be a new Government in office, despite the speculations of Mit. U. W. L . Husskli, and othe..- Ministerialists, , t who hope tosec a reconstructed Miny if-.try in which lluy themselves no a doubt expect to play prominent n parts. i- -