THE LIFE-HIST0RY OF PARLIAMENTARY RETURNS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2032, 16 July 1885, Page 4

THE LIFE-HISTORY OF PARLIAMENTARY RETURNS.

If wf^ipfy the utterances of politicians and leading articles in the papcuL 10 niany departments of I'arlia mcnllff^ proceed ing appear to be in need of reform- that' we much fe.tr a shont of • derision t in pleading for an improvement of sfttjtt urfconsideied trifles as Parlin menftft'y returns. A member of Pftrlia mont wants some information or statistics whciewith to garni*h a speech 01 pmnplilet with which •ho hopes to elecMify Hociety ; or some pet levering con stititcnt, with a similnr end in view, sends him a neatly propired skeleton form 1 , WtliCLh tla- former would like tilled up by a Government depmtment, with out 'far tftcr trouble to himself What moit *&kfi' than' to -move for n return,' B»y,j>f the number of potatoes consumed in each Afnteen of the several garrisonß at home and abroad, therel>y enlighteningthe people as to the way in which the national finances aio frittered away, and enhancing the reputation of the mo\er of the return as a far-seeing and energetic politician .it one and the saire tune? The Minister who has the responsibility of actjiueacing or refusing the proposed return i*pjaccd in the ihloiniflii that if he, knowing it to be perfectly useless aml3KialejMlMtg, declines to grant it, he muft'givo reasons for his refusal, and will alraxwt infallibly make an enemy of thelmtmber whom he anubs.^ And so, for the sake of peace and quietness, he. offejc|rn>o 'pbjccjtion to the return. It h then relegated to some subordinate clerk to jsspire, is compiled without any indeceut. haste, and is in the fulness of time laid upon the table of the house. By-and-bye it geta printed, and is circu lated amongst the select clasa of readers for whom Blue-books have an attraction Few p«Qple feel the smallest spark ot interest in it ; fewer still take the trouble to *read it ; and the day of its final delivery to the tender mercies of the butter man u seldom long delayed. Let anyone deny that this a sufficiently accurate sketch of tho life-history of tho average Parliamentary return, and we will give him.chapter and verae to the contrary. — Sanitary Record.