NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

It is considered that the hands of the Government will be greatly strengthened by tho latest effort of the Legislative Council to resist that measure of reform which it is generally recognised is necessary to.bring the Second Chamber more into touch with public opinion. While there may have been somo excuse for tho curious attitude of the Council towards the Government's Bill of last session—and wo are free to adniit that the action of tho Council last year was not without good resultsyet the behaviour of the majority of Councillors this session cannot fail to create the impression that the one purpose they have in view is to defeat the legitimate object of the Government to place this branch of the Legislature on a footing more likely to win for it that confidence which it does not at present possess." In our issue of Saturday last we showed how tho recommendations of the Select Committee appointed by the Council to inquire into and. report oh the question of Second Chamber reform would work out if given effect to. It must now be plain to everyone that the recommendations were really little more than a cloak to cover a scheme under which the evils of tho present nomination system would be perpetuated. When the nature of the committee's report is considered in all its bearings, the conclusion must be _ forrad on the public that the Legislative Council as at present constituted will not submit itself to any process of reform which , will permit the electors of the country to have any voice in choosing the members of that branch of the Legislature. It is just as well that the Government should face the position squarely. It is practically hopeless to expect tho present members of tho Legislative Council to pass the Bill now before it. _ What seems much more probable, is that they will substitute for it, ifi defiance of tho wishes of the Leader ,of the Council and the Government 'he represents, the preposterous proposals embodied in the recommendations of the Select Committee. While this in the'end must play into the hands of the Government, it will probably mean the holding up of the Bill for another session, which in the circumstances is very undesirable. Between this and next session there will bo a large exodus from tho Council, and the Government's measure is- then likely to receive better treatment there.

Sir Joseph Ward was conspicuous by his absence from the House of Representatives during the later stages of the obstruction of business on Saturday. It would Eeem that he had gone out of town, and thus to some extent ho escapes the. odium which must attach to the behaviour of the members of his party. But the member for Awarua must share tho responsibility with his followers for tho scandalous waste of timo and money involved. He knows far better than the majority of those he leads the unwisdom and tho unpopularity of such conduct as practised by his party. It is possible, of course, that tho party may have thus early "kicked over the traces" and acted in a manner to his wishes and judgment, but in any case he is plaoed on the horns of a dilemma. If he admits that ho organised this systematic obstruction of the business of Parliament, then he. must take the responsibility for the discreditable happopings. If, on the other hand, he wishes to take up the attitude that tho party was not acting itnder his instructions and'guidance, but that it was acting independently of him, then he at onco shows the .weakness of his influence over his followers. Whichever horn of the dilemma ho prefers to take it must be recognised that the now Leader of the Opposition has made a most unfortunate beginning. Tho rubbish that was talked by the obstructionists was the poorest stuff probably ever heard within the walls of Parliament. It is a pity, in one way, that it was not all duly recorded in the pages of Hansard, for no more damning indictment of the indefensible nature of the obstruction could bo wished for. The member for Auckland West, Mr. Myers, as well as Sir Joseph Ward, was very careful as to the part he took in the matter, and wisely kept aloof. It is worth noting that while on Friday and Saturday last, owing to the obstruction of the Opposition, only the Mines department and about one-half of the Internal Affairs Department Estimates were disposed of in over 30 hours, last session tho whole of tho two Departments named, and, in addition, the Public Buildings, and Justice and Native Departments were all passed in onefourth the time. That is to say, it has taken four times as' long this year to do less than half as much business. Sir Joseph Ward and his party may profess to be proud of this achievement in temporarily obstructing tho business of the country, but they know perfectly well, and the country knows perfeotly well, that .it will not prevent the Estimates being passed and the business being done. All that it accomplishes is tho wasto of a good deal of tho country's money and tho infliction of some personal discomfort on those whose work is connected with Parliament. That the Opposition recognise the danger attached to the public being fully informed of their conduct is evidenced by the manner in which thev attempted to "gag" the Prime Minister when , towards tho close of the sitting W Saturday night he rose to state tho position. Tho_ Opposition were desperately afraid to let him speak, and sought by means of constant interruptions'and "points of order" to waste the few"*minutes open to him beforo the hour of midnight arrived. Their delight when that hour was rcachcd and the Prime Minister cut short was an eloquent proof of the anxiety which had consumed them at the threatened exposure by the Leader of the House of their proceedings during the previous 30 hours.

Lord. Lorebbrn's proposal that a conference of all parties should bo held with ft view to the settlement of

the Irish question is an unmistakable indication that tho British Liberals arc just as keenly alive to the gravity of the position as the Unionists, though they, have hitherto endeavoured to conccal their real views for party purposes. Tho attempt to make the peoplo of England believe that Ulster was only playing a great, game of bluff must now bo regarded as definitely abandoned, in view of the fact that a distinguished Liberal statesman has felt compelled to make an appeal to tho nation with the object of bringing about a settlement by mutual conscnt.' If, however, such a conference as that proposed by Lord Loreburn is to 'be of any value, tho Unionists must be prepared to accept some form of Home Rule, and tho Liberals must be ready to agree to far-reaching modifications in, tho scheme embodied in their Bill. ' The tone of tho British press is net too hopeful, though the Westminster Gazette thinks that it is worth whilo making an attempt to bring the parties together. The Nationalists very naturally look upon Lord Loreburn'b letter as a sign of weakness on the part of tho Government, and it certainly points in the direction of a general election before the Homo Eule Bill is finally passed, a course which Mn. Asquith has over and over again emphatically declined to take. _ Tho Nationalists have made it quite clear that they will not accept any scheme of Home Eule which does not include Ulster, and it is also doubtful whether the Unionists would be abje to persuade Ulster to abandon resistance oven if the Government's proposals' were endorsed by a general election. Tho whole situation is beset with difficulties that appear to bo almost insurmountable, and the outlook is becoming more threatening every day. It would bo a relief to the whole Empire if a satisfactory way out could be found, and tho result, of Loud Loreburn'b appeal will be awaited with intenso interest.