TOWN EDITION. Evening Post THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1881. UNSATISFACTORY LEGISLATION.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 83, 6 October 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. Evening Post THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1881. UNSATISFACTORY LEGISLATION.

It is much to be feared that we have entered upon a period of unsatisfactory legislation. That is to say, we fear the experience of the late Parliament in ita last two sessions will be a chronic evil for a considerable time to come. Ultimately, no doubt it will in some way work its own cure. But that time is as yet distant. In reviewing the last session, we have found it convenient to regard it in various successive aspects. One particular feature to whioh we directed especial attention was the dangeronß precedent established by the manner in which the legislation of the session had been effected, three months being wasted in idle chatter, and then all the real work rushed through in three weeks. We pointed out the wide and tempting opening whioh the system adopted last session offered for the introduction of grave abuses in the event of a reckless and unscrupulous Ministry being in power. All this is indisputable, but our task would bo incomplete did we not proceed a step further, and enquire upon whom the blame should chiefly rest for this undesirable development of Parliamentary procedure, it is not very easy to single out any particular member or even party as the sole culprit. Of course the Government say it was all the fault of the Opposition (or rather " Oppositions ") that bo much time was wasted at first ; and the Opposition (or oppositions) say that it was all owing to the mismanagement of the Governmeut, who did not or could not " lead the House." No doubt there is something to be said for each of these views, but we are disposed to allot a great deal of blame to both sides. Miniatera unquestionably displayed very often a want of tact and jadgment in their metaod of conducting Parliamentary business. They also exhibited what appeared to be a signal lack of oourage in failing to fill up the Ministerial vacancy belore or during the session There may have been good and sufficient reasons for their delay. Bat we do not know what the^e were, and we are not bound to take tueni for granted while a very oimple and obvious explanation naturally suggests itself. That supposition is tnat they were afraid of offending some ot their supporters however they allotted the portfolio, and therefore they sought; refuge irom this peril in flight. They ran away from the danger by not making any appointment at all. Such, at least, is the impression naturally and reasonably created by their conduct, for which no other feasible explanation has been afforded, and it is not surprising that this should have been the idea conveyed to the large majority of the House, or that the Opposition should have been encouraged by such a manifestation of apparent weakness and shrinking from responsibility. On the other hand, the Opposition memoers assuredly cannot be exonerated. On the contrary, they are the more blameworthy of the two, because if the Government did display weakness, it was by no means incumbent on the Opposition to take undue advantage of it, to the prejudice of the public business. Yet they did so whenever the slightest opportunity offered, and that was not seldom. It was also on the Opposition side that was found in the greater prominence the fault which was the besetting em of the late Parliament and session, and which was unquestionably the real stumbling block of progress— the intolerable amount of idle and useless talk bo freely indulged in. This ia the curse of our

political sjßtem. It has grown into a frightful abase. To it we owe the barrenness of recent sessions and the unsatisfactory legislation of othera. Let us be clearly understood . We do not regard the nature or amount of last session's legislation as oa the whole unsatisfactory. But legislation may be quite as unsatisfactory in its manner as its matter. And when the former is bo prominently bad, there is no security that the latter will be good It may be bo, but that will be a fortuitous coincidence, and not cause and effect. We may have an honest Government who will only take advantage of membere' weariness and impatience toward the close of a session to force through necessary and useful measures. Or we may have an unscrupulous Ministry that will avail itself of bo convenient a chance to Blip through some most objectionable and pernicious legislation. There is no security on this head. It is all a matter of pure chance. How the Beemingly irrepressible loquacity of members is to be bridled, when their own sense or discretion fails to restrain their passion for chattering, it is difficult to say. Probably this will be found quite impracticable without interfering with the freedom of debate. We are not alluding on this occasion to any organised " stonewalling " or to ita repression by an " iron hand " process, but simply to the continuous obstruction which ia created by the evil habit that is bo rapidly growing upon our legislators of perpetually jumping up and delivering long, tedious, perfectly nseless, and often utterly irrelevant and fruitless orations on every possible occasion. The great lesson they have to learn is how and when to hod their tongues, as the great majority of members of the House of Commons have perforce to do. Very few members of our Legislature are worth listening to, and they aa a rule speak the most seldom. The obscure babblors who occupy ! the lion'B share of the time and of Hansard might well profit by the example set them by their intellectual betters. But it is with the electors that the chance of reform now rests. Let them be careful not to return mere empty windbags as their representatives. Let them show to the candidates now seeking their suffrages that they value honf st work and not mere " spouting." Let them make it plain that the man who, if elected, wastes time in talk instead of facilitating the progress of the real work will never again receive their support. Let them return the right class of men to Parliament, and then they will have taken the most effective means to prevent waste of time and its inevitable concomitant, unsatisfactory legislation.