POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2685, 15 December 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE PREMIER IN A BAD TEMPER. (Special to “Times.”’) WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. When yesterday Messrs Massey and 'Allen protested against the hurried ‘way. in which the Defence Bill had been rushed through by the Special Committee to which it }iad been referred, ‘and against tho general hustle at the end of the session, Sir Joseph Warn replied in language more forcible than his customary urbanity permits him ‘to indulge in. He said that any one, ‘to hear the Opposition members speak, ‘would think that members had not time 'to breathe or time to think. Neither we have” and “Hear, hear,” replied 'Opposition members. The Premier made 6ome response about other memhers being able to understand the Defence Bill without requiring unlimited time to examine and think over it. He added that if members had not tune 'to think, his advice to them was to 'think plenty during the recess. J > would do them good. As a matter o fact it is impossible for members to grasp the details or even the salients, of all the Bills- and. papers that are daily placed before them while thev are compelled to sit six days a .week and attend to the . usual committee work also. rushing business through. Members on the Government si e the House are making heroic_rusli es to Christmas, tk “hTbid a win, especially a? the “ ranch inclined that way. Air. Massey and some of his followers professi to be willing to come back aiter the holidays to finish the business decently and m order, but it is certain that „he majority oi members would prefer to retire on the 22nd or 23rd, and leave the unfinished business to be dealt with when the sun is not so strong and farming operations are less strenuous in their call to the fields., but the rush and the hours of legislative labor are dead y. both to the legislative efficiency and the physique of the legislators lhlatter may not matter so much, because physical disaster is willingly risKed for'the reward of leisure,, but the lack of legislative efficiency is a matter which at least some members ot Jparliament deplore. From now onward all measures are permitted to go throng. i all stages at one sitting if they can cret through, because the Standing Orders, have been suspended in both Houses with that object, and the Ministry are thus enabled “to spring important measures on the House and whistle them on to the Statute Book before members have had any chance of becoming acquainted with their import. An instance of this was given in the Council this afternoon, when the Attorney-General moved for leave 'to introduce the Industrial Schools Amendment Act. This being granted, the Bill was read a first time. Then he moved the second reading, and while he. was doing so the Bill inade its first appearance in print, and was distributed amongst members. Had it not been for a vigorous protest on the part of several members, it is highly probable that the Bill would, have been put through all stages. The proposals contained in the measure, the Hon. O. Samuel explained, were a decided infringement of the liberty of the subject, and although he did not doubt it- might become a necessity m regard to the class of subject dealt with, it was essential to give members an opportunity of studying the proposal before voting upon it. That course was eventually adopted, and a respite given to the extent of 24 hours. Following upon, that, however, some fifteen local Bills, which had only just been circulated, were rushed through the second reading stage in a few minutes without discussion, which really was impossible under the circumstances The consolidated estimates are not halt through yet. It will be necessary t-o rush them through with breathless sneed in the end, whether the prorogation or an adjournment is the ultimate determination of the Government, as money will be needed' before the new year. . THE SECRETIVE PREMIER. The Premier is resolute in keeping to himself his intentions as to the measures to be passed before the closing up. Possibly he is himself undecided, and is waiting to see how tne cat jumps, but apparently with the hope of getting as much as possible through with as little criticism as possible. He favors early and late sittings, and 1 throws the onus on the other fellow.” It is quite pathetic to see the thin and sleepy Chamber in the early hours of the morning, and the yawns from overwrought members are numerous and often very audible.