The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4566, 23 August 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1883.

Notwithstanding the many objectiuDs offered^ J^> the high-handed manner io which the Colonial Treasurer commenced to ride rough-shod over the members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of the session, the effect of keeping those young gentlemen down is beginning to show itself in the rapid progress which is being made with work in the House. Although it may be a trifle disagreeable to the representatives of the people to be told by dominie Atkinson to sit still, be good boys, learn their le.isons, and go home quietly when work is done, it would appear that like the boys in other establishments, such a method of treating them has the effect of making them get through their duties more expeditiously than, to judge by past sessions, they would have done. An old stager like the leader in the Lower House should by this time have ascertained how to keep the youngsters in his charge in a state of order and discipline, more particularly when aided by so excellent and stern an assistant as the Speaker. Certainly some , open-mouthed ones have been a little unruly, such as Messrs Fish, Seddon, llursthouse, and other political larrikins, and had not the firm hand and unspared rod been held over the rest, others might have joined the rowdy and talkative' ones, and such waste of time and unparliamentary scenes have occurred, as we were wont to see in the last parliament, before the general election relegated a few Otago, Westland, and Auckland members to that obscurity from which they, should never have emerged. We have seen in the lower chamber men long-winded and empty beaded, jumping on their feet on every conceivable occa* sioo, never for a moment pausing to wonder whether they could throw any additional light on the subject under dis-. cusaion, nor even asking themselves if they understood it, Such men generally spoke for Hansard, for their rising in the House was generally a signal to clear the chamber, and then these self-suffici-ent persona would wade in, inflated, per haps, by a feeling that they were not quite understood, but that when those who flew from listening to their eloquenceread their dreadful effusions in Hansard— their ends were served. Doubtless, Major Atkinson, profiting by past lessons in this direction, resolved that the present session should have none of its time frittered away similarly. However none can deny liia; little time is being wasted and althuu.*<> we cannot agree with many of the measures passed, nor admire the method adopted of carrying on, the business of the country* we must admit that it possesses

in the matter of celprity, advantages over the systems obtaining in previous years.