THE NEXT SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 40, 28 October 1871, Page 15

THE NEXT SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY.

[lndependent, October 26 ] The House of Representatives passed yesterday, by a large majority, a resolution to the effect that the next session of Parliament should be held in Dunedin. Considering that of necessity large expense is involved, it is a curious fact, if inconsistency were ever curious, that the mover in the matter should be Mr Reader Wood, the latest apostle of retrenchment. We may charitably conjecture that he has seen the error of his recent ways, and-returned to the flowery path he trod so gaily with the Three Million Loan at his back, and reckless expenditure—the watchword of his party. Our readers may recollect that an exactly similar resolution in favor of Christchurch was carried in 1866, upon the motion of Mr Whitaker; but Mr Stafford, who was then at the head of the Government, declined to give it effect for two very substantial reasons. First, because the Legislative Council failed to concur in the opinion of the House; and, secondly, and chiefly, because the House itself left the proposition in a mere abstract form, by neglecting to ■ vote the money necessary to complete the arrangements involved. We think Mr Stafford was right, and we have little doubt that the present Government will pursue a very similar

■course. It appears to us that the expressed opinion of the House cannot be ignored, and that it becomes the duty of the Colonial Treasurer to cause an estimate to be prepared of the probable expenditure likely to be entailed upon itlie colony in the provision for the accommodation of both branches of the legislature in Dunedin, and the transfer to°that city of those departments which absolute necessity requires should be under the immediate supervision of the political head.. Mr Macandrew is apt to dispose of all difficulties by a wave of his fingers, and he told the House there was abundant accommodation ready to hand, better in fact and more convenient than in Wellington. Upon this point we take leave to differ. There is certainly the Provincial Council Hall, which, by alteration of the fittings, would make a very good House of Representatives. There are a few committee rooms, but we take leave to think that hon members would to some extent miss the comforts of Bellamy’s, for which there can absolutely be little or no provision within the limits of the building, with the exception of a small bar for the retailing of fluids. Again, there is the question of the library, an essential, we are justified in supposing, to the legislature. Is the invaluable collection of books now appertaining to Parliament to be banded about the colony in steamers subject to the multifarious risks of water, tire, and transhipment ? The library of the Otago Provincial Council, not much to the credit of that body, consists of imperfect sets of blue books and a complete copy of the “ Gentleman’s Magazine !” Then where is to be located the Legislative Council ? Are these gentlemen to be relegated to the cellars of the Provincial Buildings, or are they to share the University Hall with the students of logic and the boardingschool misses "who throng to the drawing classes ? We do not say these difficulties are insurmountable; butthey have to be faced, and money, and a good deal of money, must be voted to make them smooth. Leaving aside the question of expense, we are inclined to think that it might not be disadvantageous, even to the interests of Wellington, that the experiment of a peregrina tory Parliament should have a fair trial ; for we are persuaded one trial will suffice. Dunedin in the months of June, July, and August —the ordinary period of the session—is not exactly a terrestial paradise, and the dust of our beach might, mayhap, be forgotten under the keener influences of snow and sleet, and the physical delights of chronic influenza. The only Minister who spoke in the debate was Mr Fox, who took occasion to pay a very graceful tribute to the hospitality of the southern metropolis, the renown of which we are in Mined to think has had something to do with the decision of the House. We desire to regard the matter from a larger point of view than mere local interest, and cannot look upon the decisive opinion of the representatives of the people otherwise than as worthy of consideration and respect, although it may at the lime appear to run counter to the personal interests of ourselves and our fellow-citizens. If it should incite our local authorities to be up and doing in the matter of sanitary reform, improved civic regulations, and other social amenities, we may.regard the vote as a very substantial boon.