Untitled

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 6 March 1863, Page 2

Like all Parliaments, Imperial and Provincial, our Legislature have been crowding their work into the last days of the session. He would be sanguine indeed who looked for any exception to the rule. It seems now settled that, three-fourths of any session must be allowed to members to "get their breath out,'' and then comes an anxiety to get over business which is absolutely astonishing. The ministerial and the opposition shake hands by common consent, and measures are immediately passed involving the weal and welfare of thousands. We are therefore not surprised that in the brief interval since our last issue several most important bills have passed the Provincial Council of Southland. Chief amongst these must be ranked the Bluff and Invercargill Railway Ordinance. After a debate that seemed as if it was going to be interminable, the Government have yielded to the Opposition, so far as to pledge themselves to a line to the Mokomoko only, and that no extension will take place till authorised by a vote of the Council. Under the circumstances this was, perhaps, the wisest step to take. Had they insisted on the whole bill it might possibly have been carried, but by a majority so small as wonld scarcely warrant them iv going to the General Government to ask assent to raise the necessary funds. So far good, and as the leaders of the minority [had it come to a division] admitted that a line to the Bluff may eventually be necessary, we may expect that before long they will be the keenest advocates for such a measure. It will be a matter for regret that a like compromise, resulting in a similar temporary measure, could not be arrived at regarding our communication with the Lake district during winter. Here we think the Government are to blame. Instead of first obtaining every evidence on the subject, they concoct a measure, and then, when it is brought before Council and their own witnesses heard, they are compelled to abandon it. While all this is going on, the valuable time — the only period when anything could be done — is lost, and although a slight effort is to be made, we are practically no further advanced towards the desired end than if no step whatever had been taken.