The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. GISBORNE, AUG, 14, 1905. WASTE OF TIME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1532, 14 August 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. GISBORNE, AUG, 14, 1905. WASTE OF TIME.

Were it not for the seriousness of the condition of affairs, some mirthfulness might be derived from the sorry exhibition now proceeding in Wellington* The farce going on in Parliament is altogether too expensive to permit of the humor of the thing being appreciated. The little band of clever men terming themselves the New Liberal Party have placed an increase of the progressive land tax as a prominent plank of their platform. Certainly If , things are to go on as they are doing, increased revenue must be found from somewhere, and the city politician is usually ready to thrust new burdens on the land-owner Men who are prepared to delay business by nonsensical utterances about economising in soap would not worry much who had to bear the cost of Parliamentary tomfoolery. Just now it is the fashion to support all kinds of schemes the main object of which is to add to the permanent expenses of the oountry ; some are no doubt good, and all suggestions of the kind are worthy of consideration. But no excuse can be found for the class of politicians who, On the pretence of serving the public interest, cause enormous waste by frittering away tbe time of the House. Even in the case of the famous vouchor, what would it all amount to if what Mr Fisher said were all true ? Why should Captain Seddon he made such a butt of because he is tbe Premier’s son ? Is it for the good of the country that the storm is being raised? Through it all there looms the intention of increasing the burdens on the owners of land. The Premier has proved an obstacle to any such policy, butihis weakness has been discovered ; he is sensitive to attacks on members of his family, and having found the weak point, there are many ways of turning it .to advantage.