THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1897. THE "WORK” OF THE SESSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3314, 22 December 1897, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1897. THE "WORK” OF THE SESSION.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 184 5,’ and the New Zealander. ' . , ,

'■ A serious waste of the money of the taxpayer ” will be the verdict of the f country, regarding the session which' has just closed, a session which niight-with* advantage; have .ended over a month ago.‘/It is hardly-possible to point to any useful pieces bf legislation. .Never indeed has there been a more barren session. To this re* suit numerous causes have contributed, but none more than the meaningless loquacity of the majority of the members. From the outset, the members of jthe .Opposition-R----aided and/abetted by certain' malcontent members of the Liberal Party—set themselves .the task of . blocking the business of the country, and with them must rest the praise-* or blame—from .whichever..standpoint their conduct' may"lso~ of having prevented -the carrying into effect of. the wishes of the people of the colony. Even where measures demanded by the constituencies succeeded so far as the House bf Representatives was concerned, the members of the Legislative Council have thwarted the wishes of the electors and Bills " their quietus. The Oppositionists contend that they have stood in defence of constitutional .rights, and, though this may be justly urged in some instances, it will be for the members of that party to persuade the people of the colony that they have done anything more than slop the wheels of progress. Wo have. said that it would he difficult to point to much useful legislation, but that is, perhaps/ a too sweeping remark- The Lands for. r Sot.tlement Amendment Act will-afford Ministers the opportunity of opening up large areas of land at present held by a small number of persons to the decided as a whole. There need be no fear that the Minister for Bands will take any unfair advantage under the provisions of the new measure ; on the contrary, we believe the. immediate , effect will. bo beneficial. That the principle of old ago pensions has been affirmed by the Lower House is a distinct advance, and those who helped to mutilate the measure in the House will. have to make good their conduct to their constituents.

As far as the conduct of the Council is concerned, its unreasoning action 1 will lend added force to the contention,, that the majority of the members of that body are unmindful of the wishes of the people, and delight? in thwarting every measure which has for its object the amelioration of their condition. Keen regret will also be felt at the defeat of what would have proved a beneficent measure, the Young Persons’ Protection Bill. In many of the States of the Union some such law has been enacted, and the benefits which have accrued from its working have been found to be very great. The shocking manner in which the whole subject was treated by members ot the Council convinces us that that body has little care for tho future ot tho unoared for children whose lives are blasted long ere they arrive at the age when reason and judgment might be expected to come to their rescue. “If you want relief from the evil,” in effect say these Councillors, “ re-enact the Contagious Diseases Act !*’ That the Technical Education Bill has been sacrificed is matter for sincere regret, tor it is held by many that under all the circumstances' the .Premier might have given the pledge asked of him as the price of the passage af the Bill. At the same time, we cannot agree with those who affected to see in the measure “ the thin edge of the wedge of Denominationalism.” There is no good or sufficient reason why any private school should not participate in grants in aid of technical education, and this was all that was aimed at by the Premier. It is not in the power of Mr Seddon or any other political leader to sacrifice the national system of education to Denominationalism, and the raising of the bogey was absolutely unnecessary. Nothing can excuse the incessant bickering that has gone on, tho bitter personalities indulged in on both sides and the utter shamelessness of the conduct ot certain members, who, to cover their traitorous, ness to their party, have out-Heroded Herod in ’ false accusation and gross calumny. These members will have their reward. To sum up, the session has not been altogether worthless j but the actual work done should have been accomplished very easily within the space of sis or seven weeks.