THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1887.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10411, 8 April 1897, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1887.

, —-♦ The exceptional circumstances in which Parliament has been called together have shorn it of the interest ordinarily attending a first meeting after an appeal to the country. The situation must be regarded as an armed truce, in which the combatants, without in the least abandoning the intention of ultimately trying conclusions, have agreed to a suspension of hostilities in view of the common object of giving appropriate and graceful expression to the loyalty to the Crown entertained by all parties in the State. It is an attractive phase in political life, and one unfortunately not very common, in which politicians and party men can lift themselves out of the lower sphere of parochial strife and join hands in compassing one object that commands the respect of all. At the same time it is hardly in human nature to expect that no indication will be afforded of the divergences existing, and doubtless a tinge of party will occasionally colour the proceedings. This is in the nature of things, and its occurrence need not be regarded as derogating from the honourable, and we might almost say, ohivalrous character of the situation, which, in the circumstances of New Zealand, is oue that in itself is perhaps the most significant proof that could be afforded of the unanimous and cordial spirit that actuates the whole colony in doing honour to the Queen. Indeed, it has been a noteworthy thing that throughout the whole of the proceedings that have led up to the mission of the Premier to London, the lead has been taken by those who are; politically opposed to the Premier, and any feeling of opposition that has shown itself, has been mainly within the ranks of his supporters. This lias been all the more noticeable from the fact that insinuations and even charges have been made, that the desire of the Opposition for the Premier's departure for London was not in bona-fide, but with the sinister hope of the Government being led in some way into a trap,

It is unnecessary to analyse the circumstances that have made it necessary that a short and early session, and then the suspension Qf Parliament till the Premier's return, should have been made a condition of his going, It is frankly owned that in his. absence the conduct of business by his colleagues would have landed the party in chaos. That fundamental fact was tacitly accepted as a basis of all consideration of the subject, and recognising it the Opposition has acquiesced in the otherwise needless and unusual course of suspending all Par. liamentary proceedings during the ab. sence of the Premier. As New-Zealand is unique among the colonies ji) several things,soalsointhis,thatitsGoverument must preserve a condition of suspended 'animation in the absence of its one governing mind. The acceptance of this cunous condition, however, lias, been a foregone conclusion, and only minor matters and such as are not likely to create much difficulty remain "> dispute. Should a military contingent accompany the Premier? ap. pears to have given more difficulty to Government supporters than to the Opposition, but by both parties it has been judiciously relegated to the category of non-party questions to be determined by every member on his own judgment. On this subject it •as to be said that the. invitation rom the Imperial Government was extended to a military representation as well at, to the Premiers, and though anything j»W an .ostentatious display, or need. less extravagance ought to be deprecated, it would certainly martbe good I taste of the colony's attitude, to refrain

M - » ! from.fcccedinl; to the request All the other boloniei are sending military contingeitts, anfl New Zealand can hardly afford to be] an exception. Blunders havo probably been made in the selection, mora particularly of the Maories, and other* motives besides doing lionour to the Queen have probably influenced proceedings. But errors 0 that sort are capable of being repaired, and should not, be sufficient to excite 9 .2 desire to prevent a contingent of the -.'I military forces of New Zealand from M being present to take a part in the J army of colonial troops that are to {>| precede He|- Majesty's carriage in the j| great procession. ,? || The only flatter apparently remain- I ing to furnish differences of opinion I and debate,; is that of the length of time 1 for which Supply should be granted by | Parliament, and consequently the date 1 at which Parliament should resume its if sittings. It is of course desirable that ;S the suspension of Parliamentary pro- \i ceedings should not be unnecessarily M prolonged, but the differences of a fort- M night or so, in the claims of opponents, M does not present a very formidable Cf casus belli- The approach of Christmas 1 will dive but a brief period for the treat- i men tof the very debateable matters that ,| are beingheld in, suspense, assuming that , f the session must end with the holidays, f But the exceptional occurrence of the >| suspension of Parliament will warrant '■£?■ an exceptional extension of Parliamen- ;| tary work to the other side of the holi- , % days; and it may be confidently ;j' anticipated that whether Parliament -.? resumes at the date desired by the : ;| Opposition or the. Government, its . >| work will not be satisfactorily confined within the limits of the year. In these ■Jf circumstances a few weeks more or less J| in the duration of the prorogation can $ not be very material; and it would be 1 inadvisable that the action of the I Premier at home should be needlessly ) hampered, in the event of its becoming ; desirable that he should be present at deliberations or conferences between the Premiers and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, or other negotiations affecting the colony or the empire which might be prolonged beyond the period fixed by the summoning of Parliament. The fact being practically fixed that the Premier is to go to London the details of the incidental proceedings are largely divested of interest, and the fact that quarrel it to be held in suspense will give to them apparently very much of a perfunctory character.