POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4405, 11 July 1901, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

A Promising Reform. Swiftly and almost silently the House of Represeataties adopted yesterday afternoon the sensible plan of arranging the bulk of its work for the daytime. In future' on the two Government days the House will meet at half-past ten in. the mornings and adjourn at half-past ten in the evenings. At one stroke, then, the allmight sitting is abolished, for that practice was always reserved for Government days, the private member, when left to himself, generally making a bee line for bed at a reasonable hour. On the score of health, the new departure has every reason for commendation and none against! it. And in the matter of convenience ip ought to have everything to commend iit. Here, at all events, we have a House which, after a long career of curtailing the labour of other people, has at last consented to shorten its own. That it may discover, as those large "firms which took not many years ago to the light hours’ system, that the fruit of the shortened working time is more work, everyone sincerely hopes. There is one cause for disquiet, however. I"he practice of talking measures out has risen in our Lower House to notoriety. Will the leopard change his spots merely because you set him to work at coursing game, at an earlier hour? The practice of talking out is so convenient for obstruction, and so handy for revenge, that the setting up of a fixed hour of adjournment cannot but prove a great incentive to its increase. The uncertainty of adjourn, ment is now felt to be a deterrent, and file certainty that no fresh business can be taken after a stated hour is often a temptation. The now plan is admittedly to be on its trial. If the objectionable practice proves too much for the self-denial of honourable members, the only way to preserve the better system of brighter and shorter hours will be by setting up the closure. In the event of any motion in that direction, it may be probable that the House will be induced by the proved benefits of the new departure to vote the gag unanimously.

“ King,” Mahuta. The Premier had an, opportunity in Parliament the other day to set the question of this king without’a kingdom, right, and he took proper advantage cl it. ' The opportunity was afforded by certain Auckland members, and Mr Beddon turned the tables on the enemy by simply stating the facts. These resolve themselves into two part*. In the first, place, the Duke of York, who waa to bo the guest of the colony, cabledJhia wish from (Colombo, of his own motion, to meet the Maoris on their own ground; and as the duty of the colony was te respect the wishes of its guest, there was no option but to have the meeting at Rotorua. Auckland was not the place for a great gathering of Maori*5600 men, women and children —a large proportion of whom were quite unaccustomed to the way* of large towns- Secondly, “King” Mahuta offered to go to Auckland with his war canoes, but required a special presentation to the Duke. This would have offended tho other Maoris, and would thus have undone the pacificatory work of years.' The “king’s” price was too great, and the Government had the moral courage to refuse big offer. No sooner was it refused than Mahuta’s desire to give Auckland a Maori holiday disappeared. The Government kept * special train, readv to transport the Mahuta canoes and tbeir Waikato crews to Auckland, but never a canoe was forthcoming. “A ruse, the Premier declared the whole manoeuvre to be. and the event proved he was absolutely correct. It i* beyond expression, reprehensible that such a miserable intrigue should have found countenance anywhere. The Auckland section of the Opposition stands convicted of an attempt to exploit thp_ patriotism and loyalty of their part of the country to obtain an unfair potty pontioal advantage. The emphatic Hear hears” accorded by so many Oppositionists to the Premier’s scathing denunciation, were evidence that the House clearly appreciated the situation.