The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1883. PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1068, 3 August 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1883. PARLIAMENT.

The days of the session are numbered, as it is generally understood that business will be got through by the end of the month. The only thing likely to delay the prorogation will be another attempt on the part of the Opposition to obstruct business by firing off one of the air guns which each of the leaders of the party seems to keep behind his coattails ready to produce at a moment’s notice. Three or tour times have these harmless weapons been produced this session, and the result has been the same in each case, a debate more or less wearying, and then ending in smoke. We really think the best plan would be to test the “ confidence ” question straight out at the beginning of the Session, and then if the Government were defeated they would have to “ go,” If on the other hand the House shewed by a majority that the Ministry possessed its confidence as administrators, then Government ought not to treat any motion with which they did not quite agree as implying a want of confidence, and so defeating it by party ends. The same rule would apply to the Opposition, and if they were worsted on the first “ set to,” they should understand that their hopes' of snatching office were over for the session. Many useful proposals from both sides of the House would then be debated in a different spirit to that now shewn, and the country would be the gainer. The work of the session might be got through in far less time if only some means could be devised for avoiding the constant “no confidence” issues which are always cropping up. As things are at present, all the Government of the day has to do is to declare any motion from the other side a hostile one, and then of course the outcome of the struggle is a foregone conclusion, and the debate merely so much time wasted at a tremendous cost. We are no supporters of the Opposition party, but it is reasonable to suppose that there are sensible men among them and many of their suggestions might be valuable were they not smothered by the party system of voting. We hope yet to see some improved method of conducting Parliamentary business whereby the expense of the annual session will be largely reduced..