THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY AUG. 24th, 1903. POLITICAL NOTES.

Southland Times, Issue 19132, 24 August 1903, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY AUG. 24th, 1903. POLITICAL NOTES.

— , » The Session. Parliament has now been in session eight weeks, and it is interesting to look back over them and pass :n review the principal scenes that have appeared on the political stage. The debate on the Address-in-Keply occupied the "boards" for a full three weeks, and from the outset the CJovormnent came in for an unusual amount of adverse criticism. Our prediction at that time that some stirring debates might bo anticipated has been amply justified. There has been more life nnd heat in tho proceedings of the House than for some yeai-s past. The first announcement ot* special prominonce foil from the lips of tho Premier when ho disclosed the intention of the Cabinet in regard to our asylums, and the improvements which it was intended to effect in classifying and caring for the mentally de- ■.< ficient. Then tho minds of politicians were exercised by a cable from London intimating the decision of the Stock Exchange underwriters not to underwrite colonial loans for some time. The immediate effect of this was reflected in tho financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer, and there is reason to fear that when our debentures fall due to a substantial sum during the next two years, wo shall find no little difficulty in redeeming them at satisfactory rates of interest. The Premier's educational promises were also of importance, and he has so far carried them into effect by appointing a select Committee on education, by making a substantial grant towards secondary education, and by putting the finances of school committoea on a more satisfactory basis. Of a nioro exciting nature were the so-called no-confi-dence motions, of which no less than throe came before the House in quick succession. One of them may be put lightly aside, for members refused to regard Mr Witheford's motiou of censure upon the Minister of Lands seriously. The motion was not introduced at the right time, nor did it come from the right quarter to claim the earnest attention of the House. Upon the other motions tho Government were never in danger, and at each division the Premier had a majority of 20 at his back. An extraordinary position arose in connection with the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Bill, and many hours on Friday were wasted in a discussion upon side issues. The bill will now be restored to the Order Paper, and it is not probable that Mr Seddon will proceed with his motion to disregard the ruling of the Speaker. Of actual business, very little bJas been done, and small progress has been made with tho work of the session. A number of bills, a few of them important, have been advanced a stage or two, but no measures on which opinion is Sharply divided have beeji before members. These lie ahead, and if the session is to be kept within reasonable limits, Parliament will have to Settle itself seriously to work immediately. Under any circumstances the session will he a long one, and the period of late sittings must be near at hand. There ar<u important proposals to be discussed, and there will be interesting and lively debates in the House before the curtain is rung down on the session of 1903. The Licensing Question One of the most important developments of the session was tho late repontance of Mr Seddon in respect both to the position in Newtown and to licensing legislation in general. From the first, both in the. House and in' answer to deputations, the Premier has taken a firm stand, and in distinct terms he declined again anxl again to interfere with the distressed liquor problem until the Privy Council had adjudicated upon the questions which are to be submitted to it, but tho pressure of public opinion and tho unrest in Parliament itself have compelled him to retreat from that position. The situation was becoming 'serious, and Mr Setidon no doubt recognised that there "would be no peace for him until the difficuHieß'SY'efO faced and the anoinaliea that e^iat had been removeci; And the .Premier's mgnment that it would lie improper to interfere with a, matter %h&% -vas 911 b

udlc* had, aitor ell, no solid founlation. The only queation that is o »efore the Privy Council is whether a nandamus can lie against tho Nowown licensing committee to compel hem to hear applications for the islue of licenses. That has nothing in ;he world to do with the imperfections in the law under which the soils are conducted, nor can. it bo arged with any show of reason as a jround for delay in putting tho law right. The whole country was agitated and harassed by tho position which arose after the poll taken in November last, and insisted upon the Government addressing itself to tho task of amending the law so that a similar situation may not arise again. In regard to Newtown, it is also right that the matter should be put "on a legal basis. At present the law is in suspense. , The hands of the police have been stayed, and that is a position which is improper and intolerable. Had the Premier stubbornly refused to givo way he might have tried the patience of the House and tho peoplo beyond endurance. It might be a harsh thing to deprive publicans in Newtown of their licenses until such time as the Privy Council gives its decision, but if they are to continue selling alcoholic liquors it should be under the sanction of the law. The Premier '.vas wise to relent, and it will now be for the Courts of justice to say whether or not liquor shall be sold in Newtown until the Privy Council finally decides the question.. The Estimates. The discussion of the estimates of expenditure for the financial year '0&---04 was commenced on 'Wednesday afternoon, and the latitude allowed to members on the first item was taken full advantage of. The Government was severely criticised on several points. Mr Herries had good ground for complaining, of the expenditure upon telegrams beyond the colony. Every yoar the taxpayers have to provide a large sum for this purpose, and the money is not spent wisely. Those who follow the .Home papers and have an opportunity of seeing the cables which the Premier sends abroad wi!l agree that \ury little benefit can accrue to the colony thoroby. In a large measure the messages consist of personal explanations by Mr Setldon, and of telegrams the chief object of which seems to be to flatter the personal vanity of the Premier. The Civil Service was also made a subject of criticism, and Mr J. C. Thomson adopted the attitude taken up in this column when the Financial statement was delivered. Economy j has been effected in the wrong direction. The cost of public departments has been increased, and a saving is to bo made by reducing expenditure upon public works. We aro certain that it was not necessary to retard the development of the colony to this extent. The working classes and the country settlers aro to suffer, while no attempt is being made to purify the Civil Service. The estimates have gone on increasing every year. Last year and tho year before much of the expenditure was of non-recurring nature, and this fact was impressed on tho public by thoso at the head of Government, but now that the vast sums reqtiired for tho visit of tho Duke aud Duchess of York, the Coronation contingent, and the South African contingents have no longer to bo provided for, the estimates do not show a corresponding decrease. In tho estimates for last year no less than £70,000 was voted for such purposes, and yot, though wo are how released from these charges, there is no reduction this year. This non-recurring expenditure has been absorbed in other directions, and is chiefly accounted for by additions to salaries and increased staffs in various departments. It is true that a larger sum has been taken for secondary education. Tho last estimates provided £12,600 for secondary education, and this year it is proposed to vote £20,750. But that only absorbs some £8000, and does not explain why, with £*70,000 less to provide for, it has not been possible to effect a saving in tho estimates for the j current year. i