The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1896. THE DATE OF THE DISSOLUTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 91, 11 August 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1896. THE DATE OF THE DISSOLUTION.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Now that the Representation Commissioners have practically finished their •work, the question of the date of the dissolution looms up very large. If we take the business now on the Order Paper, Parliament should remain in session for at least three months, but Order Papers are delusive, more particularly are they so in a dying session, for there are many Bills and notices of motion which are intended for effect. A great " slaughter of innocents " is inevitable, and this will probably be notified during the week. The Representation Commissioners have set the seal on the present Parliament, for, with the changes in the electoral boundaries, the obliteration of certain seats and the doubt and uncertainty which must be felt by members individually and the party managers will compel the Government to seek a dissolution at an early date. Everything can be got ready for the elections by the second week in October, and it is therefore not unlikely that the elections will be held in November. If this be so, members will endeavor to get as long a time as possible to woo the electors, many of whom will be quite new. Furthermore, with the boundaries settled, those who intend contesting the seats and are not now in Parliament will make the most of the time between this and the dissolution to further their interests, and this makes a powerful reason why Parliament will take an early opportunity of signing its death warrant. There is really very little in the way of an early dissolution. The Noconfidence debate has finished; the banking inquiry, so far as the Lower House is concerned, could be well dropped ; private Bills count for nothing; and we are reduced then to the policy Bills and the Estimates. The Government will have no trouble in carrying such of the measures as they desire to place on the statute-book of the colony; and the measures so honored will not be many. The bulk of the Government policy Bills will be dropped, and then we cqme to the Estimates. Here lies the difficulty. The Opposition though numerically weak is strong* in debate and Parliamentary tactics, and the weak Oppo-

sition can block the Estimates for an indefinite time. The question to be considered then is, how far will the Opposition go to prolong the session ? The answer is simple enough for it will be so long as it suits the requirements of the party. We cannot see that the Opposition has anything to gain by blocking supplies, for they must be equally as anxious as the other side to make the acquaintance of the electors. The next week or two ought to give a very fair indication of what the country may expect. There will be a keen contest for advantages real or imaginary, and so soon as those in power fancy they have secured a lead then we shall have the excitement attendant on a general election. Taking all things into consideration, we hazard the opinion that in about five or six weeks' time the end will be reached. The dissolution in the last week of September and the general election in the second week in November are strong probabilities, and electors should see that their names are on the electoral roll. Delays are dangerous.