The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1900. THE LATE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 204, 23 October 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1900. THE LATE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.

We do not know that anyone will be sony that Parliament has closed its sittings. The system adopted of making Parliament'the sole vehicle through which monetary grants can be secured, instead of confining it to its legislative functions, makes the sessions more and more a scramble for the loaves and fishes. The growing disregard of the sanctity of the Sabbath day is another very unsatisfactory feature of our Parliamentary institutions. We make this protest in no spirit, but as a matter of public policy. Over 90 per cent, of the population of the colony are professing Christians, so far as nominally belonging to some branch of the Christian Church goes, and the I recognition of a Divine Being. More- ! over, Parliament itself daily recognises the Christian Faith, the proceedings of both the Upper and Lower House being opened with prayer. For the sake of consistency, and as the highest Court in the land, whose duty it is to set an example to others, especial care should be taken not to violate the Divine law upon which their own legislation is founded. We trust that in future the conclusion of the session will be so ordered that the sanctity of the day, recognised by the State as the day of rest, may not be violated, Despite these drawbacks, the session which has just closed has done much useful work, and piesents several features worthy of comment. One remarkable feature was the extraordinary strength of the Government, the previous elections having practically annihilated the Opposition. The result has been that the various measures introduced by the Government have been much more fully discussed and amended with perfect freedom from parly bias. This has secured the. passing into law some exceedingly useful and much-needed measures. The list is too long to refer to in detail, but amongst tbo most valuable are the consolidating measures. If a whole session was devoted to the work of consolidating the numerous Acts and amending Acts that encumber our Statute Book, a very great boon would be conferred on these entrusted with the administration of the laws. We heartily welcome, therefore, the Municipal Corporations Act, which consolidates the enormous mass i f legislation these administrating the 'i {fairs of our towns have to master. We regret, however; that it was not possible also to deal with the law affecting counties as well as boroughs. The Public Health Act, the Noxious Weeds Act, and the Manual and Technical Education Act are valuable measures for which the country has waited for years, The Minister for Native Affairs is also to be heartily congratulated on securing the passing of several measures of great importance to the welfare of tae Maori?, These Acts are the result of several years of careful enquiry into tiie circumstances and conditions of the native race, and have been circulated amongst the; native?, who have had every opportun- ] ity afforded them of suggesting alterations and. generally of aiding the paesicg of Acts which will go a long way to give the Maoris a Surge measure of self-government. Tbo alterations in the Customs tarifl (vhicb w.-re efiact-ed. are important as an indication th-.t !h prosperity of the colony is so permanently established as to justify the Colon al Treasurer reducing the duties levied on the neces-arius of life. Another important matter was the [annexation of Earatonga and the adj icect islands, and the resaluiions passed by veiy large majorities in both Houses favouring the federation of New Zealand with the Fijian Group. \s an indication of the gi owth of 'rider and broader views of our obligations to the Empire these resolutions are important, In tho some connecion may be mentioned the Defence Report embodying Sir, Feddon's pro- ; ml for tho fortaation of a colonial ,;Si:r7o for Imperial service. These ;i cposab V.avo beau my highly spoken I throughout the Empire, and seem •twreiy to !» rnr.de ihe bssftiu of a still c-gsr schf:>r.3 of Impanel defence, em-

'•racing the iviwio of th& Bri isb orn("■re. The rotiigimm of the Hon. •Jol.u :f i.jy gg-.j; {th ( , Hoise atd his [/..'ilio. . u.si Minis or of Lilftds i' 4 jK.- ')i" l- " !_,■ [ j widens ol th : ; 3 i... Jimd. ptn'.cj'j not; only or tbo Govei-muaoti but, of too lalmwhl !i A l»i> t till J J

his strong, wibuat handling of this important Department sadly missed, The absence of the Hon. T. Thompson and the Hon. A. J. Cadman has baen a great loss to the Government, though the latter, from his place in the Upper House, is still able to advise and assist. As Minister of Railways Mr. Cadrnan made a name as a firm and capable administrator, and it is fortunate indeed for the colony that so able a successor as the Hon. J. G. Ward was available. On the whole, the late session compares fairly well with those that preceded it, and there is every reason to hope that the remaining sessions of the fourteenth Parliament of Ne* Zealand will be productive of much good to the colomy.