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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4539, 7 October 1875, Page 2

The following apt remarks appear in a late issue of the Otago Guardian, in reference to the business of the session :—There are signs that the remaining business of the session, as is too often the case, will be scrambled through in a very unsatisfactory manner. Representation Bills and estimates are not trifling matters in themselves, but exhausted nature will scarcely be equal to dealing with them as they ought to be dealt with. We confess that we would rather see no legislation at all than hasty legislation of this kind, at the end of a session of a “moribund” Parliament. There are good reasons for postponing it, even although a general election is about to come off, and a few will be kept without their privileges for another two or three years. But after a great party fight, this is always the way—the real legislation is at last forced through a thin House, or with insufficient discussion. After the floods comes drought ; after the storm, the doldrums. And so millions will be voted away, the promised disclosures of Sir George will not be made, the charges of financial tergiversation will not he investigated, but all will be rushed through, hurry-scurry, at the last moment. And this is the outcome of representative institutions. It is well that we have a Government in whose honesty of intention at least we may believe, notwithstanding their errors of omission and commission, and Sir George’s dark hints into the bargain. But if anything could encourage jobbery, it would be the facility with which it can be carried on under our present system. It seems as if the chief end in life of a member of Parliament is to talk, and the least of his practical duties effectual check and control. As it is at present, we think the best thing the House can do is to swallow tho Estimates whole, and vote the supplies, general and provincial, in globo. There is an old proverb about securing at tho spigot and letting out at the bung-hole, which will apply to the general course of our Parliamentary dealing with matters of expenditure.