A PARTING SHOT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1584, 14 June 1887, Page 4

A PARTING SHOT.

The parting shot intended to have been fired by Mr Rolleston came off, but it was one of so curious a nature as to deserve a passing notice. It appears on the Order Paper m the shape of the following remarkable resolution, viz : — "That the exercise of the prerogative of dissolution under a system of Triennial Parliaments is fraught with great danger to the independence of Parliament and the successful woiking of representative institutions m the interests of the people." It is a pity that that opportunity did not serve to enable the hon. member for Geraldine to explain the reasons which bad induced him to formulate this entirely novel Parliamentary degma, and to state what arguments he was prepared to offer m recommending it to the acceptance of the House. In the absence of such light as might thus have been thrown upon the question, we are entirely unable to discern any reason at all for the acceptance of such a proposition. Indeed, it appears to us that the exercise of the prerogative of dissblur tion is often the only possible way of extrication from Parliamentary deadlock, whether under a triennial, quinquennia), or septennial system. We cannot see what the duration of Parliamentary life has to do with the matter, the precisely same difficulties presenting themselves m connection with Parliamentary government, quite irrespective of the term of its existence- But for the power to dissolve Pailiamenf, government would m some eases become impossible, and without this demiet ressott there would otten be an amount of intriguing which would throw into the shade anything of the sort with which we have hitherto been acquainted. So far from "interfering wilh the independence of Parliament," it not infrequently happens that it is most effectually secured by the exercise of the prerogative of dissolution, and we feel sure that had: Mr > Rolleston's resolution come to the vote the House would have declared' to that effect by rejecting it by a large majority. But the fact is that wbat Mr Rolleston really desired, under cover of a general proposition,, was to find fault with the Governor for according a dissolution to ' his presefot advisers, and by so doing keeping men like Mr Rolleston and his | friends from those seats on the Treasury benches towards which they are looking with such eager desire. Jit was, of course, m no way m interference mth the independence of Parliament to exercise the prerogative of dissolution m 1883 m that request of the AtkinsonRolleslon Government. Oh dear, no !; But when, the same measure is nifeted ounb the other side, it befcomes ari exceedingly, improper thing from the Rolleston point of view. Happily, his^ Excellency is not prejudiced by party' leanings, and is duly mindful of the sound old proverb that " What is sauce for the goose is "—-and should be also —•" sauce for the gander."