ataura Ensign WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN FREE PRESS AND WAIKAIA HERALD. GORE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1883. THE LATE SESSION.

Mataura Ensign, Volume VI, Issue 288, 11 September 1883, Page 2

ataura Ensign WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN FREE PRESS AND WAIKAIA HERALD. GORE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1883. THE LATE SESSION.

"The mountain was in labor and brought forth a mouse." This ancient feat in obstetrics has been riralled by the Parliament o£ New Zealand in the session just happily concluded. The statute book has again been overloaded with a mass of measures, all of them, without exception, either intended to meet petty local wants or private * fads,' and it only wanted the cope-stone placed in position on Saturday last to complete the work of a session more remarkable than any of its predecessors for violence af debate, and at the same time barrenness of results. When one looks down the long list of Acts which represent three months' work by the presumedly highest collective wisdom of the colony, the impression left of their administrative and creative ability is a most humiliating one. And when oae recollects the interminable wrangles, the fierce personal altercations, and the undignified squabbles which have disgraced the past session, the impression of their courtesy and gentlemanliness is not likely to be much more favorable. It is with regret that we conclude that the blame oannot be attributed to any one section of the House. Another Pandora's box would appear to have been opened, and instead of evil, discords appear to have flown about. There can be no doubt that much of the unseemly quarreling has been the result or boo great a majority on the Ministerial benches, and the hoppers, and well nigh desperate, attempts of the leaders of the Opposition to attain the upper hand. A Ministry so numerically strong in support as that now in office are not likely to be disposed to yield one iota to the demands of their antagonists, and we are somewhat afra d that Major Atkinson has not on all occasions displayed that forbearance to a beaten foe which 'the ancient general called the highest part of military wisdom. On the other hand neither has Sir Ge(Jbge Geey shown any diminution of that partiality for using irrationally the forms of the House for obstructive purposes which has always characterised him when' in opposition. The most trumpery objection becomes in his hands of national— nay, supremeimportance, aDd the " liberty of the human race" is ever on his lips on the slightest provocation. With this penchant on the part of Sir George G-rey, and the doubtf ujnesg pf the relation*

between himself and his rival leader of the Opposition, Mr Montgomeet, it is no wonder that disorganisation should ensue and that each member should ignore the standard of his party and, like Hal of the Wynd, " fight for his own hand." "We have had, therefore, an Opposition containing none of the elements of coherence, and hence soon destined to lie prostrate at the feet of the Government. "We earnestly hope that before Parliament meets again the constituencies will, in unmistakeable tones, assert voices and prevent the House from becoming a mere superior road board, and therefrom degenerating, by easy descent, into a beargarden, '