Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1879. TRIENNIAL PARLTAMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 11, 30 September 1879, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1879. TRIENNIAL PARLTAMENTS.

« It is ciuxently rumoured that the Government Bill to secure Triennial Parliaments will not, if passed, take effect until the expiration of the present Parliament — five years hence. We confess ourselves exceedingly surprised at such a rumour, as it is surrounded with a strong air of probability. " Triennial Parliaments " was one of the Liberal measures upon which the Government appealed to the country ; it holds a leading place in the Governor's speech, and the people of the Colony expect it to be brought in so that the present Parliament will come under its operation. Therefore, any attempt on the part of the Government to stave off tho question for five years longer, will lead to a very strong feeling against them, and arouse grave suspicions of insincerity as to their whole policy. The arguments in favor of Triennial Parliaments are unanswerable. In the Governor's speech, the following sentence deals with the question : — 1 This enactment will render each member moro directly accountable to his constituents than he at present is, and will secure I to the electors the power of returning members so frequeutly to the House of Representatives that public opinion — which 1 often, in young countries, take 3 a new direction, from the rapidly-varying circumstances of such communities — will be fairly represented in every phase which that opinion may assume. It is further asseited of the measure that it is, in the opinion of the Government, " so equitable, and so accordant with the spirit of modern 1 times," that it would assist in producing general contentment, and in placing legislation largely in the hands • of the people ; further, that the alteration in the Constitution Act , would be but slight, whilst the measure is " evidently in accord with the popular wish." These • statements have been accepted by the people of the Colony. They have returned re--5 presentatives pledged to secure Triennial Parliaments for them, and we trust " Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House I of Bepresentatives," will insist upon j the Bill being brought into operation.