The Work of the Coming Session.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 624, 1 May 1882, Page 2

The Work of the Coming Session.

The near approach of the next Parliamentary session naturally gives rise to some speculation as to the nature of the measures which will be placed before our newly-elected legislators. Of entirely new measures, we take it, there will not be many ; for, despite the efforts of a few would-be reformers during the recent contest for the House of Representatives, there is no “ burning question” to be decided by the people’s representatives when in Parliament assembled. But although, as we have said, there are no entirely new measures urgently demanded by the people, there are many of our statutes which stand in need of very considerable amendment. The bankruptcy laws, perhaps, demand a prominent place under this category, and we hope that the now near approaching session may see the introduction of some very necessary alterations in the much-abused Bankruptcy Act. Then there is the lately-

passed Gaming and Lotteries Act, which has been proved altogether un- 1 equal to the task for which it was mainly introduced namely, to suppress the large Derby sweeps which have become so numerous in New Zealand and Australia during the last ten years. It has been abundantly proved that all that is necessary to evade the provisions of this Draconic measure is an ambiguously-worded advertisement, and the promoters ot this species of speculation can ply their avocation much the same as before the passage of the Act which was to deal their deathblow. It is true people are debarred from drawing a half-crown sweep on a ract-course, and to this extent the Act has put a stop to “ gambling j” but if the patrons of the turt cannot club tiieir half-crowns together, and take a dip into a hat, to apportion the various horses in a given race, they may'put their pounds into the totalisator and choose their horse for themselves. So the Gaming and Lotteries Act is another measure winch almost stands side by side with the Bankruptcy Act as regards the necessity for amendment. The Licensing Act, in so far as the local option clauses are concerned, has not proved the universal blessing which a large section of the public and press hoped for. So far as the polls on these clauses have been taken, it shows that only from about six to ten per cent., on an average, of those qualified to vote record their wishes for or against the granting of new licenses. We shall be told that it. is a new measure, and that we must not condemn it until the people have had time to get thorougly acquainted with its provisions, and to be educated up to exercising their new rights. But, after all the clamor for local option, it is rather a poser to find that the said people care not a straw for their newlyacquired powers. It abundantly shows that the publican interest, if it likes to work energetically, can effectually veto the granting of any new licenses for three years to come, and so secure a monopoly to the existing houses. We do not say that the principle of local option is wrong, but we do say that if the people are not fully alive to the privileges which they enjoy under these clauses of the Act, and endeavor, by going to the polling booths in something like their full strength, and to neutralise the machinations of any particular clique which may have an axe to grind, that we had better by far have been without local option. Then there is the Education Act, which many are of opinion should be amended in the direction of altering the “ school age ” of children to about, say 10 years. This would considerably reduce the cost of our educational system, and also relieve the teachers of much work which is almost wholly unprofitable. We think that at ten years of age, a child might very well receive its education in the home circle, and it will all tiie more readily retain the instruction imparted at the public schools after that age. The Corrupt Practices Bill, too, is another of our statutes which is urgently in need of revision. As the law stands now a man cannot hire a solitary cab in which to bring his supporters to the poll. But stringent as the Act is in this respect there is nothing to prevent an unscrupulous candidate or his friends buying up the stock-in-trade of every livery stablekeeper and carter in the place, and using the vehicles and horse flesh to bring his friends to the ballot-boxes. This brings us to the Registration Act, which has left the door open to unlimited roll-stuffing—as the Wakanui electorate will find to its cost, or we are much mistaken. It will take all the • time of the newly-appointed Registration Officer for Wakanui to keep the rolls which are now being prepared pure, and as the Act stands, it is an utter impossibility to ensure the purity of the latter or supplementary rolls issued just prior to the election. Judges of the Supreme Court have laid it down —and very rightly too —that they cannot go behind the electoral rolls. This only points to the greater necessity for having the rolls as printed thoroughly purged of all unqualified claimants. The remedy in this case is comparatively simple. While fully agreeing that we cannot make people either sober or honest by Act of Parliament, we can at least punish them severely for being dishonest. All that is necessary with regard to the Registration Act is a short amending Act, making it penal for anyone to make a false declaration in support of a claim to vote. As regards the other measures we have mentioned as needing amendment, we confess the remedy is not so apparent. The Bankruptcy laws have been a thorn in the side of almost every Government we have had in New Zealand; the Gaming and Lotteries Act is an endeavor to make men moral—a very laudable effort no doubt, butonenot e. sy ©(consummation; the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, if it is to be what its n, me implies, will tax the ingenuity of both Houses of the Legislature to the utmost; and there is such a deep-rooted aversion to touch the Education Act in any way that we do not think the amendment of the latter will be the least easy of the tasks which the coming session of Parliament should have set it. And, admitting the difficult problems which have to be solved before our social legislation can be deemed to approach in the slightest degree to tlie perfect, we think it points to the necessity of electing men to the few seals now vacant who are qualified to grasp in a broad and enlightened manner questions which may be placed before them, and not men who come before the electors and ask them for their confidence with no past record in their favor, and nothing to back them but unblushing effrontery and a vain belief that they are the prince of players, and have nothing to do but pipe and their hearers will dance. We say that wherever the electors have the opportunity to choose between a man capable of grasping the details of social questions such as these we have mentioned, and a man who is a mere novice at the work, they should most unhesitatingly reject the latter, and record their votes in favor of that candidate who has proved him | self in every way qualified to deal with j great social questions.