The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1887. THE PREMIER'S TACTICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1726, 3 December 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1887. THE PREMIER'S TACTICS.

The Parliamentary proceedings of the last few weeks fully confirm the opinion we some time ago expressed as to what we considered would be the tactics of the Premier, namely, that the time of the session would be utterly barren of results so far as the business of the country was concerned until the prorogation loomed up m the near future. Seven weeks were frittered away, and during all this period not a single Government measure was brought down. The Financial Statement was delivered and partially discussed, and the new Midland Railway contract considered and agreed to. The Public Works Statement has not even yet been delivered. But when, within three weeks of the end of the session, the necessity for something like action became apparent, this laissez fahc policy is abandoned and all is hurry, bustle and confusion. During the past week important Bills have been rushed through pell mell without the consideration their importance demands, the discussion of the Financial statement has been burked, many private Bills, which if passed would be, it is admitted, very beneficial to the colony, have been placed so low down on the Order Paper as to preclude the possibility of their escaping from the ineviiable " slaughter of the innocents," and the Public Works Statement has been promised for Tuesday next. This hasty legislation is very much to be deprecated and deplored, and we shall be very agreeably surprised if it do not result most disastrously for the best interests of the colony. Old settlers m New Zealand need not to be reminded what a hubbub the rushing through of important measures has created. But Major Atkinson, strong m his position, with an abnormal and heterogeneous majority, scorns public opinion. He knows bis strength, for having exacted from his present supporters a promise that they will not oppose him until he has unfolded his policy, he feels he has the whip hand of them and ruthlessly compels them to fulfil their promise, from which none of them seem averse, though a large proportion were returned to Parliament for the express purpose of preventing his retuto to office. Knowing his strength he assumes the role of dictator and carries it through to perfection, as though "to the manner born." An autocrat of autocrats, his will is law, and this he presses upon the House m relentless style — not one of his present subservient majority daring to say him nay. If an appeal be made for more time to discuss an important question and he refuse, the debate is bound to go on— till daylight if needs be. This may be a very pleasant and proud position for a Premier to occupy, but will it tend to beneficial results ? We think not.