The Hastings Standard Published Daily FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1897. THE OPPOSITION IN EVIDENCE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 451, 15 October 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1897. THE OPPOSITION IN EVIDENCE.

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.

The Opposition were in evidence on Wednesday afternoon, and the result was to cause a waste of time. We are however not disposed to blame the Opposition, for the reason that they were fighting for a principle, and under such circumstances were justified in debating the matter at whatever sacrifice of time. The composition of the various committees and the relative representation of both parties on these committees formed the basis of the contention. This session, for some unfathomable reason, the Government has chosen to have an overwhelming majority on these committees, absolutely ignoring the Opposition. The struggle on Wednesday began with the Reporting Debates and Printing Committee. The Government selection w y as for nine Ministerial supporters and one Opposition. _No one in his sane senses will consider this fair or even honest. The Opposition did not dispute the right of the Government to a majority representation on the committee, but what they did resent was the extreme representation demanded by the Government. These committees are invariably limited to ten members, and the Opposition desired that the Government should appoint six of their supporters to four from the Opposition benches. This was a very fait" and very just arrangement, but as we have said it did not meet with the approval of the Government, and every device was resorted to to defeat the wishes of the Opposition, the whole afternoon being spent in a profitless discussion. We cannot understand what objection there can ba to the suggestion of the Opposition, which we again say was fair and right and in accordance with parliamentary practice. If the Conservatives were in power and the Liberals were in Opposition such a proposal as is now made by the Government would be denounced as tyranny and as capitalistic corruption, but apparently what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander. A Liberal Government should above all things be fair and just, but there is no honesty in the manner adopted in selecting the sessional committees. We do not wish to see aay Government slavishly follow custom, but these repeated incursions into contitutional practices are dangerous and demoralising. The danger lies in the fact that the next Government, which may be an ultra-Conservative one, may give license to the new principle established by the Seddon Administrat'on and pack the sessional committees with their own supporters. The practice is demoralising, for it converts the committees into party machines, and Committees need to be kept as free as possible of the party element. We ho]. e the Opposition will fight the matter out and win, and so secure once and for all an acknowledgment of the principle which has hitherto influenced the selection of sessional committees.