THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8170, 28 June 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1906.

It is now over six months 'since the representatives of the people were elected, and thongh none of the business affairs of the colony have been transacted sinoe then, the representatives of the people have, of coarse, been steadily drawing their salaries. There was certainly nothing to be gained by Parliament meetiug before the present l time, and possibly the country would be just as well off if the usual period of sessions were considerably shortened, and more businesslike methods infused into the proceedings of Parliament. One of the remarkable features of pretty well every session is the enormous amount of time that is absolutely wasted. The Government blame the Opposition for the waste of time, and the Opposition blame the Government, but the real cause of the trouble seems to be in a bad habit—a very bad | habit—that, Parliament has devel • oped. The session opens late—the early part of is generally wasted, and during the latter part members are overworked and both the coun<

try and themselves suffer thereby. Tbe country pays a very stiff prioe for its legislation, and there is no reason whatever why that legislation should be hastily considered. The men who represent the people are supposed to be capable of satisfactorily performing the duties of the position to which they have successfully aspired, and especially when we consider the condition of various Acts, we must admit that they are well-paid legislators. They are, also, quite numerous enough in number. We do not think the oountry would appreciate any proposal in the direotion of increasing tbe number of its representatives at the present time; yet, despite these obvious truths, it is proposed, in faot, has practically been decided, that Parliament shall, after transacting purely formal business, be prorogued until, the return of Sir Joseph Ward. ! The ciroumstanoes attending tbe opening of Parliament are of a mournful character indeed, owing to the lamentable death of the late Premier, but members oonld possibly show in no more befitting manner their respect to the late Mr Seddon than by infusing something of bis enthusiasm, energy and ability into their own political lives. Even though Sir Joseph Ward is absent from the colony, the Government should be capable of oarrying on tbe business of the oountry. To prorogue Parliament, as proposed, is simply a great admission of an unpleasant amount of docility and weakness in the Government party. By coming to such a deoision Parliament will simply declare, to a very large extent, that there is only one Parliamentarian in its composition who is oapable of administering the country's affairs. Certainly so far as sheer ability is concerned, Sir Joseph Ward seems to us to stand out a head and shoulders above any other member of tbe present Parliament.