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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8985, 21 November 1907, Page 4

The process of forcing important legislation through Parliament during the last few days of every session has formed the subject of press comment for years past, but without beneficial result. In this matter the mantle of the late Mr Seddon has been assumed by Sir Joseph Ward, who is "playing the game for all it is worth.*' Speaking on this subject the Dominion says:—"The two cardinal vices of the system maintained by Sir Joseph Ward are the postponement until the last fortnight of a mass of legislation introduced months before, and the introduction of important measures at the eleventh hour. Until the whole procedure of Parliament is reformed, the first of these vices can only disappear when some sense of propriety develops itself in the Ministry. The secondvice is easy of removal. If it were laid down that the Government must circulate all its measures for the session within one week of the assembling of Par-

liament—provision boing made for emergency measures a fruitful source of trouble and confusion would at once disappear. Members would familiarise themselves with the programme, and, secure from the fear of surprises, would be able to do more efficient work in every way. Ministers, of course, would have a dozen objections pat, as Ministers always have, when is a conflict be-

tween common-sense and ministerial s ategy." We would go further than our contemporary suggests, and urge that all policy measures which have a direct bearing upon the welfare of the dominion should ae circulated at least three months before the session, so that the people might have an opportunity of studying their provisions, and that a sound public opinion might be formed.

Replying to a question in the House of Representatives, yesterday afternoon, the Premier said he thought that by sitting in mornings at II o'clock they might be able to get the business of the session done by Saturday evening. The'bilfe he proposed to go on with were the Native Land Settlement Bill, Gaming and Lotteries Bill, Government Railways Department Classification. Kill, Christchurch Drainage Act Amendment Bill, Water Supply Act Amendment Bill, Railways Authorisation Bill, Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill, Fire Brigades Bill and Animals Protection Bill. This is a truly modest programme for three days' sitting!