The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1889.

Western Star, Issue 1374, 24 July 1889, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1889.

From the sublime to the ridiculouwoulcl be an apt term to apply to the proceedings in Parliament. For the first

week or so of the session business pro grossed with what many thought unseemly haste; thespeech from the throne was disposed of after the shortest of debates : the financial statement was given to the country; the estimates were brought down, and, we are sorry to say, although far exceeding what might be expected from a Ministry whose leading principle is said to be retrenchment, were passed almost iii gloho (in parenthesis we might remark that the estimates as compared with the previous year show an increase on the annual and permanent charges of £142,000); and a number of important measures were initiated. All this, wo say, occurred within the first fortnight of the assembling of Parliament. Since then the time may absolutely be said to have been cut to waste, and most unprofitably wasted a great part of it. We are quite sure the public care very little to hear of the squabbles between Mr Fisher and his erstwhile colleagues, which have bulked so largely in the discussions of the Assembly; Mr Fisher never oc : cupied a very digoitieci JW'PQ, add

may now be said to occupy no position at all; so we may dismiss him, honing to hear no more of him or bis wretched intrigues. Our Premier has often inveighed against mere talking, therefore it is most surprising that he should have caused a bill—the Representation Bill—to be introduced for the sole and only purpose of all wing a few speeches to be made. Sir Harry Vtkinson knew full well the measure was not acceptable to the majority of members, indeed he promised to withdraw the bill even before it was brought forward. The Premier stated his object in inviting discussion ou this Representation Bill was to enlighten the country in regard to the Hare system of elections. But we question very much if his object has been fulfilled, and we certainly think the time occupied in the fruitless discussion could have been much better employed. That the adoption of a modified Hare system would be a very desirable change from the existing electoral law is, we think, admitted by most people who have given thought to the subject, but little interest is taken in a fore-doomed bill, and consequently, except by the limited few who read Hansard, the speeches delivered on the first Representation Bill (there is a second now before the House) were almost thrown away, Mr Saunders who out of Parliament did much to explain to the public the working of the Hare system, made the ablest speech for its adoption. He claimed that the reform proposed would abolish localism and enable members to deal with really large and important questions, instead of going to the House as mere parish representatives, seeking to carry home parish plunder; it was objected that no unknown man could get elected, but what right had they to expect it ? Men must make themselves known before they could come to Parliament. He hoped that the matter should be kept before the public until they were induced to send men to the House to really represent them. Some days having been expended in discussing electoral reform, other matters cropped up to be dealt with in like unceremonious fashion: Mr Barron’s proposal for the gradual abolition of the property tax was “ talked out” ; the Charitable Aid Bill has been introduced, but owing to the howl with which it has been received all over the colony may be said to be killed; the Otago Central Railway Bill has made, as usual, its appearance, but has, in the meantime at all events, been shelved. Altogether, with the exception of a few private members’ bills, very little has yet been done, and what has occupied weeks might quite as easily have been accomplished in as many days.