"Government by Palaver.”

Cromwell Argus, Volume II, Issue 104, 7 November 1871, Page 2

"Government by Palaver.”

Apropos of Mr Vale’s grievance, art? wo justified in anticipating the arrival of a time wlion the practice of reporting speeches in Parliament wilt be relinquished ? 'Thera cannot be a doubt, wo think, that tho evils inseparable from the “ government by palaver” are aggravated and intensified by the publicity given to mere talk. Instead of meeting for the transaction of business, members meet to confabulate, because what they say is noted down and published to the whole Colony, just as if they were so many oracles uttering words of wisdom. Now let us see how the opposite system works. We have a civic parliament, which raises and administers a revenue of £93,003, and undertakes the municipal government of 53,003 people. It meets once a fortnight, and its sittings occupy three or four hours. Broadly speaking, the city of Melbourne is quite as well governed as the Colony at 1 irge,—rather better, perhaps; while the members of the council may compare favourably with those of the Assembly. None of our civic rulers have been expelled for taking bribes, nor have three of their number stood as convicted criminals at the bar of the Supremo Court. This municipal parliament performs its work creditably, and talks little ; but supposing its discussions were fully reported in the press, what would follow? Three-fourths of the councillors would be inspired with the ambition of figuring as orators before the countrv. Instead of fortnightly we should have daily meetings. Debates would be raised upon every conceivable subject, and would be continued from day to day to the interruption of all business, and the distraction of the unfortunate Town Clerk. When the periodical vacancies occur in tin Council, there would be a rush of loafers and adventurers ; and in duo time the municipal franchise would be extended to the roughs of Borneo-line, and the bullies of Bilking-squar c. The councillors would vote themselves an annual stipend; municipal offices would be created for the purpose of providing billets for electioneering agents and w.re-pullers ; and the municipal government of Melbourne would sink to the level of that of New York. Fortunately for the interests of onr fellow-citizens, their representatives in the Council have no motive for wasting their time in talking twaddle. The newspaper reports of their proceedings are models of conciseness, and we devoutly hope they may long remain so, since they afford no temptation to the councillors to -substitute word-spinning for practical and beneficial work. — Australasian.