THE FARCE CONCLUDED.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 191, 4 September 1888, Page 2

THE FARCE CONCLUDED.

At the conclusion of each session of Parlia - ment it is customary to reflect on the that has been effected during that period. The members have joyously deserted the City of the Winds and lost as little time as possibl e in reaching a more congenial atmosphere. No one can deny them their new found pleasure ; no one can regret the termination of that “ghastly foolery,” as one journal stigmatises it, that has been enacted for four months at the expense of a heavily burdened people. Analyse the session and see how much reason there is to be proud of the work that ha a been done during that period. Not much, say we ; but a great deal to be ashamed of. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, have our representatives been talking, law making, and law breaking. Hansard has at the taxpayers’ expense, been filled with page upon page of the silliest twaddle, and what have we got for it all ? The session has been memorable for its " stonewalls,” for its borrowing, for the scandalous efforts to foist some of the most monstrous jobs upon the colony, and for the veriest of ditchwater polities. Truly it would be more to the colony’s advantage were it to pay these representatives their honorarium on condition that they stopped at home. It is nothing but talk, talk until the last moment, when it doos not matter what is the importance of the pleasure, it is either rushed through in a bungled state, or else shelved. There has been ho and to the legislation passed—the mania for slipshod Acts of Parliament is one of the curses of our great governing institution. Each succeeding session has an unlimited quantity of Bills and Amending Bills, many of which are passed without their effect being fully considered, while that legislation which may be necessary is thrown to one side without the least concern. There is much reason to doubt whether our principal pisstive institution is put a great mistake all through. One good business man would run the whole concern for a fiftieth of the cost, and with perhaps much better satisfaction in the end. The fact is plain that our democra- , tic institution requires a deal of purging - before we can expect to derive from it anyi thing like the benefit which is anticipated by the constitution.