WASTING TIME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7203, 14 September 1901, Page 4

WASTING TIME.

The present Parliament is gradually acquiring an unpleasant reputation for wasting time. The amount of work which it jMCom^ish^laat session, <H<J not give gene-

ral satisfaction, aithough its critics were disposed to be lenient on the ground that it is unfair to expect very much from a new Parliament in its first session. But if the electors expected that the members would behave better in the second session, they must haA-e been grievously disappointed. We cannot recall a single instance of tlie country's time being cut to waste Avith greater profligacy than is to he found in the history of the present session. This has 'been noticeable right through the session; but it has becni glaringly apparent during the last week or two. Many valuable 'hours were lost foetAveen the bringingdown of the Financial Statement and the conclusion of the so-called Financial Debate, and then, as if that Avas not sufficient, the House proceeded to spend the greater part of a week discussing a question of privilege. Apparently the latter subject afforded members so much' diversion, that no sooner ha/1 they reluctantly disposed of it than they \ must needs take up another question of a similar character, and spend another day in aimlessly discussing it. These diversions, as Aye have said already, may be pleasant enough t-o those legislators who take part in them, but they are dis.tinctly irritating to the electors, t The latter send their repressntatives to Parliament to do the work of the country, and when that work is constantly subordinated to a series of wrangles over petty formalities, it is not surprising that the electors begin to wonder whether the members are earning their honorariums. For bur part we should like to enter a most emphatic protest against the manner in which "the business of the country is being neglected, and we hope that the electors will combine in giving members an unmistakable hint that they had better change their tactics without any further delay.