HASTY LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17622, 8 November 1920, Page 6

HASTY LEGISLATION.

Parliament failed in its rush to finish the work of the session at the end of last week, and is now looking forward to an adjournment tomorrow.. For this undesirable scramble the Government, cannot hJ?I a i arg6 S « are of the responsibly Many of its important Bills were late. If it was impossible to bring them down earlier in the session the Government should have said so and should have given members to understand that they were expected to remain in Wellington until all proposed legislation had been given due and careful consideration. Even now at least one highly-important Bill ha s not made its appearance ft was announced in the Public Works Statement that a Bill is to be brought before the Mouse making provfeion for the Government taking over the control and maintenance ° f main roads. This Bill has always been associated with some form of tax upon vehicular traffic. Is it the intention of the Government to submit such a tax to Parliament and get it passed before the public have had an opportunity to read and understand the pro posal? .Even without the tax ** wholly inexcusable that a scheme so important as the transfer o7 the control and maintenance of man? roads to the Government should be rushed through Parliament and become law without the slightest pretence at giving opportunity for protest or suggestion. If the Bill is as forecasted in the Public Works statement, it is much too important to be disposed of within 48 hours of its appearance: if it is a Bill that can be safely and reasonably introduced to-day and passed to-morrow then the Public Works Statement has given it an altogether exaggerated advertisement. For the scramble to end the session there may be divided responsibility: for the late arrival of this important measure the Government is solely to blame. .