THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1897. MERE WASTE OF TIME-AND MONEY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3265, 23 October 1897, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1897. MERE WASTE OF TIME-AND MONEY.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent; established ISiS, and the New Zealander,

Under cover of a supposed discussion of ata Address’-in-Eeply or a Financial StateViiont members are permitted to speak on ’any and every conceivable subject. For the most part their remarks are confined to the airing of personal or political grievances, and of talking to their constituents through the pages of Hansard. Parliament has now been in session for a month, and there is absolutely nothing to show for the large expenditure of public money necessary to the maintenance of the two Chambers. It has often enough been suggested that the debate on the Address-in-Keply might at all times be dispensed with, and that so soon as the Financial Statement is brought down the Premier and Header of the Opposition might confer with a view to confining the number of speakers on either side to half a dozen. In this way the good and bad, points of the policy of the Government could be brought out and much precious time, and still more precious money, be saved. With very few excep. tions, the speeches which opver the pages of number after number <sf Hansard are' the veriest drivel, and instances are not wanting which make it perfectly clear that speakers have had nothing to say and—said it badly. Tho present session must be brought to a close before the Christmas holidays, if numbers of members are not to altogether sacrifice their private interests to the conduct of the business of the colony, and it is therefore inexplicable that Ministerialists and Oppositionists alike should deliberately waste time and exhaust tho patience of the people as they, have done and are now doing. One after another hon members declare that it is useless to discuss the Financial Statement at any length, and for the good and sufficient reason that until the Public Works Statement comes down it cannot be known exactly what is to be done with the funds in possession of, and asked for by, the Government. Why, then, this waste of words; this dreary drip of aimless debate ?

It may to some extent suit the book o£ those who ate opposed to the Government to pose before their constituents as destructive critics; but if ire are to judge by results the attempts which have been made up to the present to discredit Ministers have been resultless.' If the Opposition had taken an early opportunity of dividing the House on the question of confidence or no confidence in the Government) the country would havo been placed in a position to judge as to the real strength of parties, and members could then have settled down to iwork, leaving the explanation of their position to that more fitting time when they should give an account of their stewardship to their constituents oh the platforms of their own electorates. Men who are now floating about aimlessly in the House and one day supporting, the.next day voting against the Ministry, could, on the direct question of confidence or no confidence, have elected to take a side so far us the general policy of the Government was concerned, while reserving the right to themselves to oppose or support particular legislative or fiscal measures. Iu this way some progress could have been, made, and both Houses would ere now Have been engaged on the business they were called together to transact. So far as can now be judged, the session bids fair to be barren of result, especially if the Opposition persists in its obstructive tactics, and we warn members that the country will bo more likely to judge by results than by the force, or lack of it, in the stream of talk which has flooded the pages of Hansard. Many useful measures which have been introduced in the shape of private members’ Bills might ere now havo been discussed and the Government could have determined either to take them up or leave them to be slaughtered in the late days of the session. Ministerial measures, now awaiting a chance of consideration, ' could long since have reached their crucial stage and the Legislative Councillors, who are wandering about like so many sheep away, from the fold, could have been more or less profitably employing their time. There is something rotten in the State—not of Denmark, but of New Zealand—and the sooner the' gangrenous growth is removed the better will it bo for the colony’s exchequer and for our highest representative institution.