PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 31, 26 August 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES.

• [lndependent, August 19.] Of the important papers laid by the Government hefore Parliament at its opening, it is not too much to say that they are worthy of the earnest study of every colonist," and it may be well for Parliament to consider if the expense ot circulating them widely throughout the whole colony would not be amply repaid by the diffusion of that intelligence which can alone make the public at lar»e take a proper interest in their deliberations. To awaken and sustain such an interest would be the most effectual means of creating an enlightened public opinion. It follows necessarily from the peculiar configuration of this country and the want of intercommunication, that the deliberations of Parliament day by day virtually affect the interests of the community for good or ill, while their approval or disapproval is not ascertainable except indirectly through their representatives in Wellington. Public meetings, it is true, are sometimes held on the receipt of telegraphic intelligence affecting particular districts, but the wide distribution of these documents, showing the progress of colonising operations throughout every district of the colony, can alone guide any particular locality in forming just expectations, and in preferring reasonable requests. To take a simple illustration : If a road district, consisting of eight wards, is to receive a grant in aid of £IO,OOO in (say) ten years for its roads and bridges, it is evident that the fullest justice will be done to all the wards in the long run by undertaking works with a view to lasting results, and that in the interest of the whole it may be well to confine its operations for one year or more to two or three wards instead of frittering away the money on simultaneous operations throughout the whole district of a desultory and unsatisfactory character, and probably requiring repairs, if not re-construction when the money is all expended. If in one year ward A re ceives all the benefit, nothing will satisfy wards B, G, D, &c, so effectually as a full explanation of the reasons why operations were so limited, a detailed statement of the work proposed for next year, and a comprehensive plan of all the operations contemplated in the given term. Such is an illustration of the problem set before the colony at the present time. It is manifestly defective, but it is sufficient to show the necessity of disseminating the knowledge of what is being done under the direction of Parliament from time to time throughout the colony. The very defectiveness of the illustration, however, suggests another important consideration. Not only are the works to be commenced in every district of the colony, but the conditions for future settlement on the land, nay, frequently the validity of existing rights created by local legislation, are all determined by the action of Parliament. It is necessary, therefore, if Parliament wish to create an opinion (without which all legislatorial rests on an unsatisfactory basis) that they must devise some better measures for putting the colony in fuller and earlier possession of their legislational proceedings. We do not wish in any way to undervalue “ Hansard” : on the contrary, we prize it as an inestimable boon, and cannot recommend anything in its place. We lately drew attention, however, to the undoubted fact that it serves only as an authorised version of the opinions expressed in both Houses of Parliament, and altogether fails in the other objects it was intended to serve. The Debates Committee this year fortunately contains several representatives of the Fourth Estate, and never, therefore, was there a more favorable opportunity of drawing attention to this most important matter. “ Hansard,” as we showed, reaches the public, as a general rule, too late for its important contents being read. No paper can afford to occupy its space by reproducing speeches, telegraphic- summaries of which have appeared in its columns two or three weeks before, and when, as frequently happens, the questions* discussed in them are already settled one way or another by Parliament. A speech delivered to-day will appear in “ Hansard” next Friday, but if a steamer leaves a day or two before, it may be a fortnight old before it ever leaves Wellington. We have some de-

licncy in repeating these observations, as when we made them before they were most uncharitably misunderstood. It is for the House, and the House alone, to discover if. anything better can be done. In our issue yesterday we reported, and that very summarily, the speeches in the Legislative Council, and we think every one will admit that these far exceeded in importance those of the House of Representatives. No journal can, however, give the space necessary to proper summaries of the speeches of both Houses, and the public, so far as we are concerned, will have to depend, as formerly, upon “ Hansard” for speeches frequently superior in practical importance, as well as tone and sentiment, to those of the House of Representatives The speech, for instance, yesterday of the Hon. Mr Waterhouse is interesting to every representative of the people, and might, if known, beneficially affect their deliberations long before it can appear in “ Hansard.” Indeed, any speech representing the views of a majority in either House, or even of a minority, nay of one original thinker, cannot be too soon fairly and fully reported for the information of the other. Knowing each other’s opinions day by day upon the great questions put before them, is one of the best means of preventing those misunderstandings which often arise between the two Chambers, resulting too frequently in the obstruction of useful legislation. Nor can it be concealed that the space in the columns of any daily journal is too small to allow of members or of the public being fairly and fully acquainted with the opinions .expressed, no matter how skilful and assiduous may be the reporting staff, or how carefully the summaries may be compiled from the notes taken by them in the gallery. It is notorious that the additions to the Legislative Council made on the recommendation of the present Ministry have given an extraordinary amount of satisfaction, but the advantages arising from his Excellency nominating gentlemen of independent position, distinguished talent, and great political experience, to seats in the legislature of the country, are in a great measure lost if their views are not sufficiently made known to the whole community, or fully reported to the other Chamber, in time to assist their deliberations. It is also matter of general remark, and it was referred to by Mr Speaker, that never before in the history of New Zealand did the Colonial Parliament assume such high functions and responsibilities, and it follows therefore that it was never so desirable that their proceedings should reach the public as fully and as soon as possible. We throw these remarks out simply with a view to the public interest. It is for the committee referred to to take the matter up, and we hope they will see their way to recommend That important papers like those tabled should be circulated nolater than the circular convening Parliament “ for the despatch of business.” That a report of the debates of both Houses should appear the day following, in some morning journal, as in some of the Australian colonies ; and that this report, after being corrected by members, should be issued as the “ Hansard” report, and in its present form. It is believed that the two latter objects could be effected at a less expense than “ Hansard” now costs, without in any way interfering with the arrangements of the “ Hansard” staff, or their supervision by the House. Thus the reports would have all the circulation of the newspaper, and would be read by its subscribers. By exchanges, too. they would reach, free of. cost, all the considerable journals of the colony. No steamer would then leave Wellington without one or more day’s reports, which coming to hand before all their interest had evaporated, would be gladly reproduced by journals possessing the largest circulation.