Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1904. The Session.

Manawatu Herald, 16 June 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1904. The Session.

Considerable interest is being manifested with regard to the Parliamentary Session which opens this month. Mr Seddon’s health has sufficiently improved to enable him to resume his seat, though it will be more as a passive spectator than as an active politician. We are heartily glad that the Premier is now on the high road to recovery, even though we are not always in sympathy with his policy. The position of the Government will not however be affected by Mr Seddon’s temporary incapacity, for Sir Joseph Ward has always proved himself a good second in the work of administration. Nevertheless it does not seem at all likely that the Government will have a rosy time of it. Their action in dealing with the Liquor question has considerably strengthened the hands of the Opposition, and even

the Government themselves do not appear unanimous in supporting the Premier’s policy. Mr Seddon ma v perhaps turn the tables on his opponents by a judicious amendment oi the Licensing laws, but as he has pretty well committed himself to the Liquor Party, w'e are doubtful whether his proposed bill will prove satisfactory. Throughout his parliamentary career, the Premier has usually taken a decided stand on one side or the other, but in this particular case he has attempted to assume the attitude a “ railer,” and the result is that he has made a woeful hash of it. He cannot however maintain this position for long; it is not in accordance with his political temperament; and it is very probable that he will be forced to abandon his attempted neutral role, and take a firm stand either on the side of the “ Trade ” or on that of the people. The deplorable state of the Licensing laws has aroused a keen sense of injustice in the mind of the public, and though it remains to be seen what attitude will be adopted by the Parliamentary representatives of the people, there is no doubt that the Temperance Party in the house will make a resolute effort to secure the radical change that is so urgently required. A question of equal importance is the Premier’s land policy. Mr Seddon has taken a determined stand in favour of the leasehold} while a number of his following are directly opposed to this system of land tenure. In fact the freeholders seem to have a majority in the House as at present constituted. In the defence of the leasehold Mr Seddon has a more congenial task than in attempting to evade the difficulties of the Licensing question, and if his health keeps up—and we trust it will—he is sure to oppose the claims of the freeholders with all the energy of which he is capable, even though it may lead to loss of office. The Premier has, it is true, somewhat modified his original plans with regard to the leasehold system in favour of the freehold, and [it is very probable that, encouraged by this concession, the Opposition Will tl‘y their best to bring matters to a head; and if this is done some interesting developments may be looked for. The question as to the adoption of Bible-reading in. Schools will no doubt come up for discussion, and the advocates of the movement, by bringing pressure to bear on the Government, may possibly persuade the latter to take steps to ascertain the mind of the people on the subject. It iS not at all certain what position the Government will take up. The referendum might be a satisfactory way of settling the difficulty, and bn democratic principles Mr Seddon would perhaps support this view. At the same time the question, though an important one, is scarcely of sufficient consequence to warrant such an extreme step ; and we think that the majority of the House will preter to decide the matter themselves, without going to the unnecessary length of referring it to the electors. . It is thought that Mr Seddon will bring before the House some measures for the reformation, or even abolition, of the Legislative Council. The Premier is apparently not on very good terms with the Upper House, and this seems peculiar when we remember that a large percentage of its members were nominated by the Premier himself. However, Mr Seddon indicated in a recent speech that he considered the uni-cameral form of government a more effective one than the present system, and in fact went so far as to "threaten the Legislative Council with extinction. The question is one of exceptional gravity, and might well be the subject of a referendum. Whatever may be the result, Mr Seddon was acting in a most unstatesmanlike manner when he proposed to sweep away at one blow such a venerable and estimable institution as the bi-cameral form of legislation. The Premier has exhibited considerable skill in law-making throughout his long rule of eleven years,' but in this instance he has shown a lack of discernment that is entirely foreign to his usually well-balanced temperament, and we hope that if any proposal to abolish the Upper House is introduced, that such proposal will be stoutly resisted. We note with satisfaction that Sir Joseph Ward and other mem bers of the Government are opposed to the Premier in this matter, and it is therefore not likely that the latter will risk loss of office by interfering with the system at present obtaining. It will be seen from these considerations that this—the second session of the fifteenth Parliament of the Colony —willbe an important one ; and it will also be apparent that the position of the 1 Government is not so safe as in former years. Still it is not likely that the Government will be displaced by the Opposition. Mr Seddon is _ always at his best when on the defensive, and by acting judiciously he will no doubt manage to retain office. Nevertheless we trust he will not shirk the responsibility that is cast upon him as Prime Minister of the Colony to give the country a just code of laws, and above all we hope he will not attempt to play the part of a “ railer,” as in that capacity he has proved to be an ignominious failure.