The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1907. OUR LEGISLATORS IN WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2198, 30 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1907. OUR LEGISLATORS IN WELLINGTON.

The statement nvaclo in tho Houso of Representatives tho other day that members would certainly expect to get away for Cup week was taken quite as a matter of course when the work of tho session was being discussed, yet it surely points to an extraordinary state of affairs. It is becoming fashionable nowadays to deplore the tendency of tho young

folk to devote so much time to sport of various kinds; but what, one may well ask, is to he expected when the entire political business of the country is stopped in order that our legislators may view a few horse-races in Christchurch ? With sport as

such wo have no quarrel—it is only to the extent that it induces gainbr ling that it becomes harmful —but there seems to be a marked difference between tile case of the young man who spends his liali-holid'ay and evenings at. football, cricket, or other healthy recreation and the politician who scuttles away from Wellington, leaving his work'unfinished, that he may saunter up and

down the grandstand lawn at Riccarton. and by means of tlio State

legalised total.isa.tor endeavor to get the best of his fellow-man. Surely the comparison is all in favor of the athloto who devotes his spare time to physical recreation that is healthful both .to mind and body!

The point, however, that strikes the thoughtful observer as peculiar is that it should be necessary at all for members of Parliament to adjourn before the work . for which they have assembled has been completed. They are elected by the vote of constituents, to whom they promise with the utmost forvor and apparent sincerity that they will work for certain matters that are said to bo of vital interest to the community. They are paid a salary that is supposed to

warrant them in devoting their time, to the interests .of the country, and to the £3OO fixed by .statute there) are added numerous "pickings” that swell the remuneration considerably : beyond that amount. The people then have surely a right to expect that at least tho most important measures shall bo dealt with before the Hons,, adjourns. Yet what do we find ? Every session scores of Bills—many of them of a highly important character —a re passed by without consideration until the annual appearance of “the slaughtered innocents” has become a byword. Early in tho session the proceedings are marked by useless debates, such as the Address-in-Reply, and lengthy speeches upon all manner of trivial

subjects. At this stago anything appears good enough to kill time with. Then comes a half-hearted remonstrance from the head of tho Government, and a few policy measures are advanced through various stages, after which members proceed to discuss the probabilities as to the end of tho session. Tho Premier gives a list of Bills which bo declares must be dealt with, and for.the last month or six weeks there is a feverish haste to get’ these out of the way in order that this body of patriots shall he able to get away from AYellington ill time for Gup week. Probably it is just as well that many of tbo fads and ill-considered schemes that find their way to Parliament do not receive attention from our legislators, but, on tlio ether hand, there are many reforms crying for settlement that are shelved year by year, to the great detriment of the community. This lack of responsibility oil the part of our representatives is just as noticeable this session as in tlio past. For tho best pant of two months the Houso was simply "marking time,” and although the tariff has since been passed, it seems evident that many highly important measures will bo consigned to tho political wastepaper basket. „ It is not easy to precisely locate tbo blame for this undesirable state of affairs, for loquacious and garrulous members and political timeservers are not confined to one side of the House. Of course, in a better regulated state of society very many of our present “representatives” would have no opportunity to waste the time and money of the people, but, taking matters as they stand, it must bo remembered that tbo Premier Ins greater power than any other individual in the House. Hu shapes tho Government policy, lays down tho programme to ho followed, and under tlio circumstances must accept tho chief responsibility for the results. During tlio present session it lias been noticeable that tho work of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Massey, has been confined to an attempt—very successful at times —to improve the Government measures, whilst the chief delays have come from the Government side of the House. Sir Joseph AA’ard now declares that ho is determined to get a certain number of specified Bills through, and the members must either be prepared to submit to late sittings or be prepared to come back i to AYellington after Cup week. The Premier is thoroughly justified in his determination to have contain work accomplished, but he has not i

the slightest justification for adopting tho bad old methods of his predecessor in attempting to "legislate by exhaustion." Sitting.') which extend beyond midnight and long into the morning hours are injurious to tho health of members, and are certainly not conducive to the best interests of the country. At such sit-

tings important legislation is passed with the majority of the House absent. a proportion of thoso present asleep on the honchos, and exceedingly few in a fit state of mind and body to give the consideration that tho laws of tho country doservo. If Kir Joseph Ward wishes to establish a record for firmness ho miy well put forth Ilia irreducible programme and keep tho House in session till Christmas, and even after tlio New Year, if need be, till it is dealt with. A few weeks’ apparent delay would probably bring meinbors to tlioir senses, and they would realise that strict business was their mission in Wellington. In such an attitude tho Leader of the House would certainly havo tho support of. the general public.