RESPECTING "THE COUNTRY'S" WISH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9127, 29 June 1908, Page 4

RESPECTING "THE COUNTRY'S" WISH.

For how many things in politics is that very indefinite quantity "the country" made responsible. When receiving a deputation the other day the Hon. R. McNab said there was "a strong feeling throughout the House and country for a short sitting." As a matte; 1 of fact the country has expressed no opinion on the question, neither has the House, and the truth is that Ministers desire, irrespective altogether of the welfare of the country, a short sitting so that controversial matters may be avoided as much as possible, and the appeal to the country, which must be faced at the end of the year, rendered as successful as the Government wish. If all unpleasant quastions are avoided, and grants made to the people (of their own money, it may be remarked in parenthesis) with a liberal hand, the Government naturally argue that their appeal will exercise with telling force upon the people. After all there is something humourous in the idea of the Government (such as we have) appealing to the people; it is the people who are continually appealing to the Government. The country doesn't want either a long or a short session. What it does want is progressive administration, combined with due observation of the economic aspect of every question that demands the expenditure of the people's money.