SIR JOSEPH'S RECORD. The Acting-Premier's Capacity for Work.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 106, 12 July 1902, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH'S RECORD. The Acting-Premier's Capacity for Work.

IT is refreshing to observe the deadly onslaught the ActingPremier has made on the work of Parliament. Sir Joseph, profiting by experiences of former sessions, is not leaving much for the midnights- of the latter end of the session. He evidently likes his hearers fresh and fit, and even the Opposition is seriously asking him to postpone the rush, and give them time to draw their debating breath Imagine, for a moment, the Financial Statement being hurled at the House m its entirety during the first day of the second week of the session. # + * The Opposition, about the sixth or seventh week, when the Statement may be usually expected, begin to feel that the Treasury is empty, the Financial Statement a myth", and are fully equipped when it does come to light to deal deadly blows at its contents There has been a good deal of humour expended m past years on that much-dis-cussed document, the Public Works statement, and, when it shows its face on the table of the House, it is usually about time for members to ring up the hotel porter, and tell him to pack their portmanteaux for home • • • Sir Joseph remarked that he would table that document on Monday night, together with the Lands statement. Couldn't he delay these statements, and the famous Bl paper ? The Opposition have not done stacking their ammunition Sir Joseph, we suppose, in. pity, gives them a few days longer, and on Tuesday, at the latest, they are to face the music, and attack the Financial Statement. The ActingPremier is the fastest talker in the House. He fills himself up with his subject, and bubbles over till the "Hansard" reporters' pencils get red-hot following him * * * He follows the same line m regard to his position as head of the House He has 1 got all his dogs of war ready, and has stirred up the other Ministers to such a. pitch that it wants but the word "Go '" to start them Mr Seddon may come back knowing that, however much he may have been missed personally, there are no arrears for him to pull up The keen business acumen of the ActingPremier is of as good a quality as his

own, and the grasp he has of this Premier industry is very convincing With all Su Joseph's rapidity, he is undeniably thorough, and when the members are girding on their electioneering swords there will be no ground for cavil that the work has been rushed through without due preparation Of course, lots of people will be hurt that the Opposition have not been given more time to prepare for debates on the various statements, but even this may be regarded as not an unmixed blessing From the Governor's speech to the ringing down of the Paihamentary curtain, business promises to be rapid and summary In the meantime, however, members are bemg asked to earn their £300 by pushing the work through, which is, to say the least, rather unkind As a recompense for having to work during the opening weeks of the session, maybe they will be able to sleep m bed, and not on the benches, during the closing nights Sir Joseph has instituted a new order of things, and, be sure, the public generally will feel thankful to them for it