PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

(from an occasional correspondent op the “ RANGITIKEI ADVOCATE.”) Wellington, September 23.

We were told the session would not last six weeks. The Government was omnipotent, and there was no Opposition. The few necessary measures to revolutionise, the Constitution, and give effect to Sir George Grey’s promises on the stump, were to be passed ncm. con., and the House dismissed for the year. Well, here we are, and not. the sixth, but the ninth,'week of the session gone, and so far as business is concerned next to nothing done ; and this through no fault of, the Opposition. They have borne their faculties very meekly—have had no organisation, no recognised head, no policy, no caucuses, no nothing. They have hardly occupied two hours a day of the sittings of the House. Whence, then, has the delay arisen ? From two causes apparently: First, the incompetency of the Government, Sir George Grey never lifting a finger towards promoting business ; Mr. Stout and Mr. Ballance are both of the slow and heavy order, and the. former far too fond of provoking argument and irritating the Opposition. Mr. Macandrew never speaks except a few rambling words when some of his little transactions are being inquired into; and Mr. Fisher is as absolutely dumb ou all occasions, though hardly so ornamental, as the block in a barber's window. The result, so far as the Government benches are concerned, is that they have no hold on the House, or control over its business. They don’t lead,' they simply drift. A worse managed House was never witnessed ; and if the Opposition were inclined to resort to such practices as the Government party did before they got into their present seats, they might , get up a system of obstruction and delay such as would bring on a crisis such as that of Bidder and Parnell But thay don’t. Any ' obstruction there has been has come from the Government supporters, who, though they obey the Government whip when a division is called, occupy hours and days in criticising and condemning the Government measures. Another thing which has delayed progress has been the keeping back by the Government of p.iuers moved for and ordered by the House, or promised in the Governor’s speech. Take for instance the accounts of Sir George Grey’s interviews with the King natives promised in the speech. It was only ou Friday that the first portion of these were produced, and they do not print half a column in this morning's paper. Then the despatches between the Governor and Secretary of State, ordered in both Houses more than a month ago, they are not yet on the table; and yesterday when Mr. Stout was brought to book about it, he answered in his usually repellent, not to say repulsive manner, “ that they were in the printer’s hands, and members need not be in such a hurry.” Appeal was made to the Speaker that the proper course was to lay the papers on the table first and let them be afterwards printed, when members might have run their eyes over them. The Speaker confirmed this view *, but the papers are not yet ou the table. Then they have another dodge : A member moves for a return extending over the last twelve months. The motion is carried. Some weeks afterwards the member asks when he is going.-t& get his return. He is coolly told that the Government is going to extend it over seven years instead of one, that it will require a long investigation, and he will get it by-and-by. The member complains that he didn’t ask for and the House didn’t order a s : ven years’ return. The excuse has secured the postponement of the papers, which will perhaps turn up in the last week of the. session, when it will be far too late to take action upon them. This was Mr. Fitzroy’s fate yesterday in reference to a return of the cost of the Hiuemoa during Sir George Grey’s stumping tour. Mr. Ormond is suffering from, a similar trick played by Mr. Macandrew ; and all this from the highprincipled Government which takes everybody into its confidence, tells no fibs, never prevaricates, and does everything “on the square I”