PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2170, 11 July 1889, Page 2

PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION

Judging from the information supplied by our own and other parliamentary correspondents the present session of Parliament promises to be remarkable for "beating the records," to use a spurting term. The reply to the addresi was voted with phenomenal promptitude, and the Financial Statement was submitted at the earliest period yat known. The House has showed a most extraordinary disposition to facilitate the despatch of business, and is rising at hours that would have rejoioed that champion of the early-to-bed prinoiple, Mr Macandrew, had he lived to see it. Besides this, and to complete the whole, there seems every likelihood of an exceptionally short session, with a very thin Statute Book as its product, .This last will be by no means regretted, for a few laws and good ones are infinitely preferable to a host of crude, illconsidered measures. There are a number of very useful Bills in the hands of private members, , but the Government do, not seem to have been at all successful in catering for the publio wishes and requirements, it being very doubtful, indeed, whether any of their policy Bills will be accepted. The Corrupt Praotices Bill is wholly unnecessary, as there is amplo provision ia the existing law, and is dead already. The Representation Bill now under discussion, that is to say the Hare Bill, was stillborn, and only awaits burial, and it is highly probable that tho Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill will have to be shelved till next year. The Registration of Electors Bill if passed is certain to be cut to pieces first and almost re-modelled, and the Legislative Council Bill will certainly receive its quietus at the hands of the Upper Chamber, sentence 'having already been passed though execution is stayed for a day or two. Indeed it is quite obvious that though the House is determined to keep Ministers in, it is equally determined to carry out the other half of the famous advice of the member for Mount Ida by "keeping their measures out."