The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 1896. THE FINALE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 117, 10 September 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 1896. THE FINALE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

The flickering light of the session will soon be snufted out. The signs of the approaching dissolution have already been given in the decision of the House to suspend the Standing Orders, so that the third reading of Bills may be taken after midnight. Monday sittings will soon follow ; the slaughter of the innocents will be undertaken with Turkish delight, and the fidgety members will be sent away to woo the electors and win, if possible. The prorogation should take place about the second or third week of October, and the dissolution would speedily follow. The House has still a mass of business to deal with. There are over a hundred Bills on the Order Paper, besides other business, and we know that fresh banking legislation will become necessary. The Banking Bill may lead to a protracted debate and so upset present calculations. However, the point we wish to bring before our readers is that the life of the present Parliament is near its close. The struggle which must follow closely on the heels of the dissolution gives abundant promise of being very keen. The time-honored gag that " never in the history of New Zealand is it more necessary for the electors to bestir themselves, and endeavor to return to Parliament men who will administer the Government of this country in the true interests of the Democracy " may well be repeated now. The responsibility is with the elector, and always will be so long as he possesses the right of voting. It is the bounden duty of every elector as a matter of self-interest and for the common good, to use the modicum of intelligence he possesses to discriminate between the good and the bad in politics. The first duty of the elector is to see that Ms or her name is on the electoral roll, and we therefore hope that no one qualified to vote will shirk the little trouble that is necessary for enrolment. The contest in this electorate will be as keen as it will be in others, and victory 'will rest with the best organised party. We counsel both sides to prepare for the battle, which must be fought to a finish in a few weeks' time,