End of the Session.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 15, Issue 793, 4 November 1905, Page 4

End of the Session.

The concluding session of the fifteenth Parliament of New Zealand was brought to a close shortly after eight o'clock on Tuesday morning. During the dying hours of the session I sought out the Leader of the Opposition (says the A'./.. Herald correspondent) to glean his views as to the work of the session. Mr. Massey has had a busy time, as busy a time as the Premier, for lie has had an enormous amount of work to do, and he has done it with the assistance of only one private secietary. In answer to my request for an interview, 'he gave nie a few minutes. " In many respects the work of the session can hardly be considered satisfactory," he said. "There was far too much electioneering, both on the part of Ministers and members, and in consequence there has been waste of time, and I am afraid proposals have been agreed to that would not otherwise have been acceptable to a majority. I consider the unbusinesslike methods of the Premier very largely responsible for much ol the waste time that has taken place. As a matter of fact the Premier seldom attempts to conciliate the House, but prefers driving to leading. Men of independent spirit will not submit to such treatment. Irritation and friction are caused, and very often trouble is brought about when, with a little more tact and consideration on the part of the head of ;.he Government, matters might have run with perfect smoothness."

"Is there, then," I asked, " room for reform in Parliamentary methods?' " Yes, plenty of room for improvement," was his reply. " Under existing arrangements the Government of the day, which is really the Premier, has too much power, and the representatives of the people too little. Some changes will have to he made in the Standing Orders and forms of the House, so as to alter the existing state of affairs. There is far too much mystery in connection with the details of public expenditure, and information is very often refused which ought to be foithcpming without being asked i .r. I have had several divisions w.i.it opportunity offered of moving lor details, but in every case the Government used their majority to prevent the returns asked for being supplied." " What is the remedy ?" " The trouble, I believe, has been caused by the overwhelming majority which the Government have had behind them lor some years. The real remedy is with the electors. Let ..them reduce the Government majority to about live, and I venture to say there will be less extravagance 111 connection with the Government of the rcountry, fewer suspicious transactions, and more satisfaction, generally." "What reforms do you think are required ?" " I must refer you to the Opposition piatform, which is a platform of reforms, many-of them urgently required. Reform of land tenures, reform of the Legislative Council, reform in.connection with local government, reform of the native land muddle, reform of the audit system so as to have the whole of the accounts of the colony placed under the control of the Audit Department, reform of the method of keeping the public accounts so as to present to the public the true state of the colony's finances, reform in connection with the Civil Service, so as to provide for appointment by merit rather than by political influence, and many other reforms of importance to the country." • :l What are the prospects of the Opposition at the elections ?" " I don't care to prophesy, except just to say that I am confident the Opposition party will come back from the country considerably strengthened. I will say, however, that if it were not for the political 'pull' which they possess as Ministers, and which they exercise, the Seddon Government would soon he removed from the Treasury benches." " What about the late hours ?" "We have had some very long sittings, the difficulty being that the House cannot adjourn until a majority expresses itself in favor of so doing, but I think this will be admitted, that the Opposition have been able to prevent what is called legislation by exhaustion to a greater extent than has been the case lor the last ten years, and though, as 1 say, the House has been kept sitting very late occasionally, I don't think any Bill was allowed to go through without as full and proper consideration as was possible under the ciren nsiaiu.es "