Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 15. 1899. Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 15 June 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 15. 1899. Parliament.

+ In a few days time the Parliament of the colony meets " for the dispatch of business" as it is ironically called. Experience has proved that the assemblage of our representatives hardly conduces to a dispatch of business as hours and days are wasted in most unnecessary talk. The Government meets Parliament under very peculiar circumstances at the coming Session, as the amount of travelling done by Ministers must have prevented their giving united consideration to whatever measures may be laid before Parliament, and the Premier has to front the Opposition with practically no debaters of Ministerial rank behind Him. He will have to face the enemy alone, which he is quite capable of doing, but the strain must tell even upon his hardy constitution. Not only is the Premier thus handicapped, but he also meets the House with his popular and righthand man, the Hon. John McKenzie away, with a possibility that he may not be able again to enter into the turmoil of political life, as well as with the fact that two other Ministers have notified that at the end of the coming Session they also will retire. This is a serious position and anyother Premier but the one in office would feel troubled at the outlook. We expect to see the Right Hon. Richard Seddon come out all all right, as though Ministers may retire he has shown his capability if it has not been his desire, to manage one and all of the departments of the State, and it must be remembered that the power of having three portfolios at his disoosal must be an

eloquent factor to waverers as to which side they should support. The question of most interest to the electors is the bearing all this may have^ as to the date of the general election, and to our Prohibitionist friends the more important Local Oation Poll. We have the assurance of the Premier that he expects the Session to be a short one, but that there shall be ample time between the close of the Session and the election. He thus informs us that it is not his intention to initiate much fresh legislation, his reasons will probably be -hat such should be left to a new Parliament and not to a dying one. The anxiety of members to get to their ! constituents will be another power the Premier possesses to keep members in check, but supposing all else fails, and the Opposition should be so mistaken as to move and carry a vote of want of confidence, the Premier will undoubtedly be able to secure a dissolution and can direct a general election to be held within a very short time, and as he, and possibly his supporters understand the position they will have a material advantage over the Opposition which is, and has always been, laggard in preparation. We recommend all who are interested in politics to be up and doing from this day forth until the election is over, for when that time will be no man knoweth.