South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2954, 13 September 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1882.

The session of Parliament now closing will be a memorable one in New Zealand annals ; not, as is usually the case with memorable sessions, on account of the important business done, but on account of the remarkable manner of doing it which has characterised both sides of the House. The retrospect is enough to disgust one with representative government. Nothing has, all along, appeared above the dead level of mediocrity ; the oratory has been of the poorest, the statesmanship wretched, and the business muddled. It would be hard to say whether the Ministry or the Opposition has exhibited the worse form, all through ; and we are curious to hear the “ post-sessional addresses” to which the colony will shortly be treated. The doings “of these latter days ” of the session are of themselves indicative of the general muddle which has prevailed, all through. Members are hourly slipping away from Wellington, everybody remaining is in a hurry to go, and the House is completely disorganised. And it is under such circumstances that Ministers now bring forth sheaves of Bills that ought to have been disposed of weeks ago. Something like eight weeks were wasted in the most puerile nonsense and purposeless wrangling before any effort was made to push on the accumulating business. Towards the close of the session the excitement rises to fever pitch, and now during the remaining hours the - remnant of. the senators who stick to their post are inundated with business thrust upon them by the Government. Why were these important matters of policy not prepared and brought forward early in the session ? We blame the Opposition for this as much as the Government. Why did they .sit, inert and tongue-tied, while time was being so shamefully wasted ? Had they early taken tke stand which the country was justified in expecting them'to take, the Government w ; ould have been driven.out into the “ open ” to fight. This keeping back of business in order to rush it through at last, was “ the ace up his sleeve ” which Major Atkinson relied upon to win the day with. By playing the waiting game, while occupying the seat of power, Ministers were able to gain certain special support of which we had expected the Opposition to get the “ lion’s share.” We refer to the . 1 “ independent ”, members. A spirited, united. Opposition woql<jl, to a cortaintyv have enlisted these. But when the Opposition appeared equally languid and timid, and it was plain that nothing was to be got by adherence to.them, the“ independents,” mostly, all, joined the ranks of the party in power, whose position appeared to be thoroughly safe. Now 1 that the House is virtually their own, having played a, successful game with 'conspicuous tact,,, Government go through the form of submitting their proposals, and carry them triumphantly through, enjoying a laugh in their sleeve at their own smartness in retaining office. They propose inter alia to augment their own. stipends too; and all things,considered, their clever dodgery deserves recognition. Well, there will be nothing to boast of In having been a member of the Parliament of 1882. When to the charge of trickery on the one side, and recalcitrancy on the other, we have to add that of frequent buffoonery and occasional coarseness, we experience a mingled senge of humiliation. and disgust;- ■' ' ' V,v