The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1896. PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 9 June 1896, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1896. PARLIAMENT.

The last session of the present Parliament opens on Thursday next at Wellington. It has been called together nearly a fortnight earlier than usual, and various reasons have been assigned for this departure from usual custom. It may, however, be remarked that several months back it was freely rumored that it would be called together earlier, and that it was more than likely the session would be a short one. Some incline to the belief that there might even be a dissolution so aa to go to the country before there would be time to effect a redistribution of seats, which it is said the results of the late census will necessitate. So far as the census returns are known it appears that if the present strength of the House is to be maintained that the South Island will lose several members, which will be given to* the North Island. The Government have lost cast in the North, and consequently it is rumored that legislation is likely to be introduced increasing the strength of the House by the number of members to which the North becomes entitled, and thus preserve to the South its present number of members which the Government think would strengthen their hands, as every new member given to the North and taken from the South would be another vote " agin' the Government." We believe an increase of the - number of members would meet with favor under the present system of centralisation, where every little matter touching the welfare and wants of each .electorate have to be dealt with. If only the more important matters were dealt with by a Central Parliament then a fewer number of members than at present would suffice, so long as there were local Government Boards to attend to minor matters. Although in the forecast given by the Premier some little time ago a fairly large bill of fare was promised, it is more than likely that very little useful work will be done, as most of the members will be making electioneering speeches to > their constituents through Hansard, and trimming their sails for the coming contest. The people are heartily sick of the attempts at Socialistic legislation, and we fancy, by the Writing on the wall that the" Government themselves are getiing rather full of it too. Our finances are in such a state th it it is bard to know or ascertain how they stand. The evergreen surplus his come forth in all its splendor on the first of April, as usuaj, to gladden the hearts of the taxpayer.?. Considering the many doubtful mans of inflating revenue adopted by the Government, "the first of April is a very appropriate dav for ringing i.i the result on the people. It i 3 a foregone conclusion that at the coming election nearly the whole of the N-.rih Island will return members opposed to the Government, and there are infallible signs of a very marked turn in the tile in tho South. It is very ominous to find the Premier having to visit Inveicargill to justify the Government, considering that the Colonial Treasurer, who was looked on as a tower of strength, virtually represents the place. It should surely be sufficient for them to have a Minister all to themselves without requiring another over-w>rked and jaded one to attend to vitalise their supporters Trren the sop thrown to Auckland in the shape of a second live Minister is not considered sufficient, but that two more Minister must visit there a few days back with a view to stemming the fast ebbing tide. The Premier laments that 90 per cent of the press of the Colony is against tha Government, which may be taken as a fair index of the trend of public opinion, press depends on the public for its existence, and it i< not reasonable to suppose that it would be found in direct antagonism* with its means of existence.