THE WASTED SESSION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 43, 18 November 1871, Page 12

THE WASTED SESSION.

So far as legislative measures are concerned, the past session has not been so fruitful as some of its predecessois. A. great deal of valuable time has been wasted in useless talk. Some of the measures which were introduced, as well by Ministers as by private members, could very well be postponed ; and we therefore do not think that any legret need be felt on account of theii withdrawal. It is far better that no legislation at all should take place, than that ill-considered and uncalled for laws should be placed on the Statute Book. At no time can the importance of the bills passed be measured either by their length or their number; and no legislation can prove effective, whether for good or evil, that is far in advance or behind public opinion. I or this leason we do not so much regret that no more measures were passed, as we do that those which were passed were hurried through at the fag-end of the session, without having been subjected to that calm consideration which they so much demanded. Loquacity is as much a vice in young members as it is a habit in old people ; and this vice the presence of a reporting staff no doubt tends to aggravate. But a new Parliament is always talkative. The internal policy of the House has to be reorganised, and it takes time to effect this object. Many vain and unruly spirits have to be checked ; and the means of doing this cannot be biought all at once into effective operation. In the early part of the session much time was wasted in a species of guerilla waifare, owing to the absence of an organised Opposition. In the latter pait of ihe session much time was wasted, owing to the inherent weakness of the Opposition, which relieved its leadeis of that sense of responsibility they would have felt had they been able to secure a stronger following. When we call the past a “ wasted” session, we intend the term to apply not to the measuies passed, but to the measures which were withdrawn or rejected. We snould legret less the postponement of the Education and the Licensing Bills, if those relating to railways, immigration, settlements, and a Board of Works, had

thereby secured that care and deliberation which their intrinsic importance demanded. The first were sacrificed, and the last were passed in too great a hurry. Still the session, in a political and party sense, has not been barren of useful results. Without doubt Ministers occupied a much less favorable position at its commencement than at its close, thanks to the outcome of tho telegraph inquiry, and to the deserved discomfiture of a spiteful Opposition.