The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1887. POLITICAL ABSURDITIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1585, 21 May 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1887. POLITICAL ABSURDITIES.

Taking all surrounding circumstances into consideration it does not appear to us that any evil result* could eventuate through extending the franchise to women. Those'who voted for the Women's Suffrage Bill recognised, doubtless their own incapacity to manage the affairs of the State, and came to the conclusion that it would be as well to let the women try their hands at it. In doing thin th«y have exhibited more wisdom then they generally do, for certain it is that a Parliament composed solely of women could not possibly do worse than the present has been doing for the last few weeks. Senility, stupidity, and incapacity sire always associated with the elderly portion of the fair 6ex, but we firmly believe that it would be impossible to find 95 old women of average intelligence who would exhibit so much imbecility in their treatment of serious in Ute.rs as has characterised the proceedings of Parliament for the last f-rtnight, About a fortnight ago a majority of the House of Representatives decided to reduce the number of Members of Parliafrom 91 to 71, aud Mr RoMeßton voted for the reduction. Last Tuesday they determined to reconsider their decision, and resolyad upon increasing tb,e nam-

ber of members back to 91. For this Mr Rolleston also voted. Thus within a fortnight Mr Rolleston voted lo reduce the number of Members, and after having slept over it be voted to increase them again. In the meanlims he no doubt saw that in all probability K>rrytown, Pleasant Point, Fairlie Creek, and Peel Forest would be thrown in with Geruldine, and such additions to the constituency would not be very handy. The only other Canterbury Member who " wobbled " from sidu to side was Mr Ivess, but no one could be surprised at anything he did. While ]\*r Ivess was conducting the Timaru Herald that paper was constantly Tuning down the Government, yet Mr Ivess was a Btaunch Government supporter. The Herald, while conducted by Mr Ivess was a violent advocate of Freetrade principles ; Mr Ivess 8B a politician showed a disposition to protect local industries. The Herald never showed the slightest sympathy with the Cheap Money to Farmers scheme ; Mr Ivess brought into Parliament a Bill on the subject. Thus Mr Ivess was one thing as a journalist and another thing a politician, and consequently anything be did would not surprise us. But we are surprised at Mr Rolleston. In reply to questions when addressing his constituents, he said ha would not favor any rpduction in the number of members, and if be had adhered to this he would have acted consistently. However, consistency appears to be " a lost virtue " in New Zealand politics, and perhaps it is not right to blame Mr Rolleston for going with the tide of fashion. The Miuibtry of which Mr Rolleston was a member increased the number of members in 1881, yet Major Atkinson wants to redue- them now. The fact is the House of Representatives is demoralised ; members do not know own minds I five minutes ; they recognise that the colony is on the verge of ruin ; tbey know that taxation is unpopular, and they are at their wits' end to avoid it. I 1 hey may as well make up their minds about it ; they have reduced the colony to the condition in which we find it at present, and the people must " pay the piper." Taxation must be put up with, but if the taxpayers had any Bense thpy would not put up any longer with the race of po'iticians who have brought ruin upon them.