The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 17, ISB3. Waste of Time.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 16, 17 July 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 17, ISB3. Waste of Time.

- —■ _> The onl}- people in the Colony who appear to have no knowledge of the value of time are the hon. gentlemen who annually assemble in Wellington to discuss what are, by courtesy, c-Jled the 4 flairs of State. It i> singular that gentlemen of good business habits, a certain knowledge of the world, with that energy which may be considered necessary to secure a seat in the House, will, after breathing the atmosphere of the Parliamentary buildings, suddenly change their character. Take the case of Mr Montgomery 'I his gentleman for all his life has been distinguished for a remarkable appreciation of the value of time, and has probably spent fewer idle hours in his time than rao-t men, yet as a fritterer away of valuab e hours he has few equals in the House. Not only does he waste time himself, but is tho cause of others doing so, by the example given by him as their nominal leader. For every hour wasted thus, the other side of the House is obliged — or fancies so, which amounts to the same thing — to reply, consuming more valuable time. One hon. gentleman contemptuously compared the members of the House to tiK.se of Road Boards. The experience of this speaker as regards Road Boards must be of a remarkable character in this connection. It is a conviction in our mind that if any Road Board member was to attempt to obstruct business ic any way similar to that permitted to members of the Iluusft, he would be promptly ejected, and hit" .scat made vacant for a more suitable man to fill it. In the case of Load Boards, the members meet to do their work in as brief a period as is consistent with prudence. This is not the case with members of Parliament. Some of them appear to look upon their trip to Y\ eilington as one of pleasure. The fact of their expenses being defrayed by a grateful country adds a zest t«> their enjoyment ; the business of the country is a secondary consideration. Of course we know that there are some, who honestly believe that while they are droning out threadbare platitudes to a semisomnolent auditory, they are desiples of progress performing a sacred duty. The sneakers we particularly object to talk for the mere sake of being reported by H_nsard, and to let their constituents know they are doing, or attempting to do something. This is a useless waste of time, because such members always know which side they have to vote upon, and there is no necessity for them to attempt to explain their reasons for so voting, for the probabilities are that they have often to discover them as they proceed. Ihe same rule applies when opposing a motion. It would facilitate business if two or three members of known ability were selected by each side to argue or debate a question and afterwards let the remaining members vote according to their party convictions. Hansard would then become interesting reading and a guide book to the future historiau of New Zealand.