The New Zealand Parliament.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5569, 14 September 1889, Page 2

The New Zealand Parliament.

A Wellington corresponden writes to the Napier Telegraph : " Well, of all the sessions of Parliament for waste of time and public money I give the session just passed the palm. I say just passed, for it has virtually ended. I believe lam correct when I state that there have been six want-of-uonfidence motions tabled ; the last fizzle was of such a ridiculous nature that the Opposition dared not vote on it. The other evening the House spent the whole afternoon and night with endless talk over the railway estimates ; although now they are administered by Commissioners the vote had to be passed. But when that time had been wasted, the public work estimates were passed in about half-.in-hour, and almost without question ; that is the way this precious machine does its work. The sooner affairs are administered locally the better for all hands ; thousands and thousands a year will be saved. This belief is gaining ground more and more, particularly by the country members, who are in a position to see the working of both establishments—localism and centralism. Nearly all the Government measures have disappeared or are beingslaughtered. The Native Bills will pass, and a few unimportant Bills to rectify blunders, but several useful Bills, such as the Registration of Electors Bill, ifcc, will be, I am pretty certain, confined to the waste paper basket until next session. Your members have been very silent this year — and wisely ; the whole time of the House has been taken up by about six or seven members, who speak upon all possible and impossible subjects. The tone of the House is larrikin to an intensity. A few respectable members endeavored in the commencement of the session to restrain its propensity, but gave it up in despair. If next election don't improve the tone of our Parliament good-bye to the high position New Zealand has hitherto held in regard to the orderly manner she has conducted her affairs,"