"PARTY"—AND SESSIONAL WORK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 74, 24 September 1914, Page 6

"PARTY"— AND SESSIONAL WORK

This year's sessional " slaughter of innocents " threatens to be extensive. Precedent for election year and the principles of fairness will oblige the Government to close the session by the end of October, for some candidates will have very large districts to traverse. As the Representatives will not reassemble till 29th September, they will have a maximum of a month to cope with much business. Of course, it is notoriously true that a long Order-paper can be swept rapidly through the highpressure machine during the final helterskelter. Such rushing days, have always been noted for quantity rather than quality of work, and many a mistake has been made when members' minds and bodies have been jaded. In the early weeks, when members were fresh from the recess, they wasted hours in petty wrangles, and when they had wearied themselves with exercises which •were comparatively play they had not the necessary energy for the real work, the duties for which they were elected by the people. This year's race to the recess will bo like those of previous sessions, bufc with an important difference j members should feel strong enough for a few weeks of the strenuous life. They have had practically a holiday of nearly two months. Some may allege that the worries of the war have been as exhausting as sever© mental exertion, but the statement will not appeal to an incredulous public. There is no excuse to-day for lackadaisical dilatorinesa ; the legislators must brace up to their tasks or stand discredited before the public, all classes who have to do their work, from day to day, whatever- may be the despatches from Europe. Another leading article on this page to-day discusses two very important Bills —Local Grants and Subsidies and Legislative Council Keform. An Oppositionist exclaimed, "The most party measure of all" when the Premier referred to the lTeform Bill on Tuesday evening, and the same parrot-cry will be probably heard much for tho remainder of the session. The Opposition seems to have decided that it-will be profitable party business to shout "party" at the Government whenever the Ministry brings up a Bill' which Sir Joseph Ward and his followers do not like. Tho country is utterly against such party personalities as those which The Post reported and condemned yesterday ; that is one extreme of the system of party government, and there is another extreme, not so much to be abftoried, but to be fchunned nevertheless. Thw, would be sush a Parlianieulsuy paralysis as might

suggestions. The attitude of this party is, shortly :—lf: — If the Government introduces nothing for criticism, the Opposition will not criticise. If the Government agrees to tie its own hands, the Opposition will not strike its face. As a matter of fact, neither the Government nor the Opposition has a right to stultify iteelf in that manner. The parties can be in agreement about certain lines of procedure for the purposes of patriotism, but an understanding of that kind need not interfere with progress on some desirable Bills. Happily one of the most important is the Education Bill, which is admittedly outside the pale of party. The Bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, but tho final stage will take some days. The women teachers of the primary schools and the staffs of secondary schools are reminding Parliament that justice has not been done to them, and they have presented strong arguments. Before the war began the Government had decided to postpone the tariff revision till next year ; it is plain now that this work cannot be undertaken compi-e-hensively till peace has been established. Other proposals, now among the hopes deferred, are reserved for another article.