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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2161, 21 February 1880, Page 2

Never, in the history of Constitutional Government in this colony, have Royal Commissions flowed more freely or spontaneously than at present. Every month, every week almost, announces a new-born Commission of some sort. How long this new industry is going to continue is doubtful but, we presume, when the Treasury gets dried up these Commisions will get dried up also. For Commissions like most political luxuries are expensive things, and without plenty of capital they cannot be worked. They are useful, it is true, for more purposes than one. If like the verdicts and riders of coroners juries, they do do not produce reforms, they contribute to the support of these objects of charity —worn out and rejected representatives. Lately we have bad Native Commissions, Education Commissions, AVastc Lands Commissions, and now wejhave a Railway Commission. How many Commissions the immediate future will bring forth we are at a loss to know, hut we suppose the manufacture of Commissions, unless public opinion mercifully interferes, will go merrily on, until the whole of the impecunious played-out politicians who sported the right card at the last general election, have been comfortably disposed of. Mr Whitaker, the aged and forlorn, has been provided for with a port-folio, Sir AAGlliara Fox the rejected, lias found a scat on the mock tribunal, which lias been created to perpetuate and fool the the Maoris, Mr Oswald Curtis, the rejected of Nelson has secured a scat on the Railway Commission, and other gentlemen of the same political faith too numerous to mention, have all found comfortable Commissions. Still there arc other needy, seedy, and greedy ones with large claims on the gratitude of a paternal Government to be provided for. AVhat about Messrs AYoolcock, Henry Manders, aucl poor Wui. Rowe. Are there no Commissions to be created for their benefit ? Do not the laws of Debtor and Creditor need reforming ? and cannot a Commission on the art of Bankruptcy be appointed ?