HIGH PRESSURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1930, 28 August 1888, Page 3

HIGH PRESSURE.

As is always the case under m Atkinson regime, the question of dealing with the public expenditure, the most impor tant function of Parliament, has been left till last, and votes for hundreds of , thousands have been pushed through a wearied house during the small hours of the morning. On Friday the House met at half past twelve m the afternoon, and sat continuously until between seven and eight o'clock on Saturday morning. Du-ing the early part of the night two or three votes were carefully scrutinised and exhaustively discussed, but later on of course hon. members were fairly wearied out, and votes for large sums passed almost without challenge and • remark. This is exactly as the Major would have it ; indeed, it is always his deliberate policy to bring it about, but although the plan answered admirably from the Ministerial point of view, it is most unsatisfactory to the Opposition and to the country generally. The Stout- Vogel administration had its faults, but this was not one of them. On the contrary their estimates were always submitted early m the session, and ever) opportunity afforded for their proper consideration. It may perhaps be said that the Opposition are to blame for not more persistently urging the bringing down of the estimates m reasonable time, and that they should have refused to proceed with other business until this demand had been complied with. But m reply to this it is only fair to bear m mind that a peculiar lot of circumstances has this session praotically paralysed the Opposition, and that insistence was scarcely possible till it was too late to insist. The chief factor m this curious complication was the question of the tariff, and the principle of protaction to native industries therein involved. That principle was successfully enengraved upon the fiscal policy of tbe colony, mainly through the efforts of the Opposition, which, for the nonce and for weeks together, gave Ministers more aid towards carrying their proposals than they obtained from their own party. The position of parties has been indeed, throughout the session very unique, and we are therefore not surprised to find the Major once more able to play his old game successfully. Nevertheless, we repeat that is it highly unsatisfactory that the whole question of the public works expenditure should be left to be dealt with m an exhausted House m the last hours of the session, and we protest against this method of high pressure work, and such cannot fail of producing the most mischievioua effects.