PUBLIC OPINION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15901, 12 April 1912, Page 8

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM YESTERDAY’S NEWSPAPERS. (By Telegraph.) MR MASSEY "AT METHVEN. Surely this hint about Mr Hardy and another branch of tho Legislature ” (scarcely conforms with Air Massey’s much-advertised scheme of “ Council reform on liberal lines,” or can it be that the schema is merely a useful show and that the nominative system will bo religiously maintained if the Conservatives ever come into power? Bo this as it may, and though we desire a thorough reform of the Legislative Council, we shall ho tho first to congratulate the Hon C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C.—Dunedin “ Star.” THE HIKE CHARGES.

Mr Hino performed a distinct publio service when he showed that members of Parliament had been actively engaged and been pecuniarily interested m negotiating tho sale of properties to the Government, and even if ho had secured no result other than a definite pronouncement by Parliament as to the impropriety of transactions such as those ho condemned on the part of members of the Legislature, he would have good cause to be content with the outcome of the action he took. It remains, however, to be said that tho Government has not to this day taken any steps to give effect to the recommendation of the committee on this point.—“ Otago Daily Times.” .THE ACT STANDS.

There is no reason why anybody should go to gaol. There is the less theatrical alternative of the martyrdom of the pocket. The quaint individuals who have no country to defend need never enter a prison door except for purely advertising purposes. That being the case, if they elect to do so, no Government is justified in interfering with their sentences in any shape or form. Parliament may eventually devise some simpler way out of the* difficulty. It is to bo hoped that its method will not lean so much to humnnitarianism as to set a bad example to every little band of recalcitrants who may have the whim to sot democratio institutions at defiance.—“ New Zealand Times.” THE COST OF LIVING.

In fact, some optimists appear to imagine that the cost of living is, like a clock, to be easily regulated by the legislative hand. Governments can, of course, do much to restrain greedy trusts whose operations artificially raise the prices of the necessaries of life, but Governments cannot sanely decide that certain things must be cheap if the cost of production is comparatively high. Hie natural laws of economics have to be respected. Reformers have rather to concern themselves with unnatural restrictions and unholy alliances.—“ Evening Post.” A PUBLIC SCANDAL. Matters in connection with the parliamentary library have reached tho proportions of a public scandal._ The staff, whioh costs the Consolidated revenue £2242 per year, administers the expenditure of a little more than £6OO per year in books for the use of about one hundred and thirty members of the Legislature. The adminis-' trative expenditure is so remarkable that anyone acquainted with the principles of library economy would be staggered by It were he not aware that when members of Parliament vacate their spacious rooms and luxurious lounges their places are taken by the elite of Wellington, who, fortified by recess privileges granted by members of Parliament, nock in and have tho right to borrow two books at one time freo for home reading.—Auckland “ Star.”

A LEGISLATIVE REST. The justice of the Opposition attack upon tho administration was strikingly shown in the recent no-oonfidence debate when the Liberal Party only averted defeat by the promise of Sir Joseph Ward’s resignation and a complete reconstruction of tho Cabinet, but it has been reserved for the new Prime Minister to publicly confirm the Opposition view' that we require a rest from legislative activity. It is extraordinary that Mr Mackenzie should venture to make such a statement, having regard to the .circumstances In which he was put into office, and while he is to be complimented upon his boldness we shall wait with great interest to see how his Labour allies will receive his latest expression of opinion and how far he himself will lie ablo to act upon it.—“ New Zealand Herald.”