The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1897.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6048, 9 December 1897, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1897.

Prodigious ! After being in session ever since September 23, and practically wasting all the time at an enormous cost to the country, the House of Representatives actually did a fair day's work yesterday, a number of Bills being passed through all their stages. For the insensate delay that has taken place, the Conservative Party is mainly responsible. Of that fact our readers are, of course, perfectly well aware. If they had not been, their eyes would have been opened by what took place at the Opposition caucus held yesterday morning. Thereat some naive confessions were made. Our correspondent was able to tell us— needless to say as the result of information specially communicated to him— that it was decided " not to offer any factious opposition to the Loan Bill." Here we have a unique admission that " factious opposition " has been the keynote of Conservative policy i» the House. This fairly " flattens out" al) the high-toned twaddle that has bee» written in Conservative journals, and \ittered by Conservative members, to the effect that all the stonewalling was in reality prompted by the purest morality. We were also told, again on the authority of the party itself, that a committee was specially appointed to select Bills to be slaughtered. Another unique admission. The Conservatives will deliberately so themselves, after their wonted manner, to strangle useful legislation, utterly regardless of the wants and wishes of the people.

But the very important fact must not | be overlooked' that the existing parliamen- j

tary methods of proceduro include a great deal that is atrociously bad. If the Conservatives made confession yesterday, so did the Government party, which also held a caucus.. It was considered necessary that certain returns which have been ordered, and not produced, should be forthcoming; that members should have fair treatment with regard to motions and questions ; that late sittings should be abolished, and that the policy of the Ministry, inclusive of the Budget and the Public Works Statement, should be fully disclosed within the first month of the session. Now these proposals constitute, first, a frank admission of methods radically wrong, and next, a programme of reform such as would be of enormous benefit to the- country. Changes such as these have been urged by conscientious journalists until they have become weary of the reiteration. Over and over again it has been pointed out that the function of a Ministry is to have its business programme perfectly ready when the House meets, that the meaningless flood of talk on that antiquated drivel, the "Speech from the Throne," ought to be abolished, and thai; the sitting hours ought to be so regulated that members shall be able to give their best consideration to the proposals put before them. After the conclusions that were come to yesterday, there is hope that at least some measure of reform is not far distant.