The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1911. AN UNSATISFACTORY PROPOSAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3109, 4 January 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1911. AN UNSATISFACTORY PROPOSAL

The decision of the Government to liold only a short late session this year is not meeting with much approval. Tins is just what might have been anticipated. According to the Prime Minister the session will last only from six to eight weeks. Less than two months should, lie says, suffice for all the legislation required. It may be pointed out that exception to the proposals is not confined to the Opposition press. For instance the “Lyttelton Times,” one of the leading Ministerial journals, takes fc'ir Joseph Ward severely to task both as regards the postponement of the session for a month and his intention to submit only a small legislative programme. “j.t is,” remarks our southern contemporary “absurd to say that there is no work for Parliament to do. The Bills held over from last session make a very fodmidable list, and deal with such important subjects as education, conciliation and arbitration, medical practitioners, mental defectives, mining, municipal corporations, accident insurance, noxious weeds, proprietary law, shipping and seamen, workers’ compensation and a host of others.” With a late opening of Parliament, another factor which will assist to make the session anything but rich in useful work will be the early approach of the general elections. Naturally in view of the alterations in regard to the boundaries of various electorates, and reports of the doings of other candidates, members will become more and more anxious to enter upon electioneering as the weeks pass. The plea put forward by the- Premier in defence of his proposal that Parliament should be postponed can only he regarded as being of the flimsiest nature. It was in effect that owing to the absence of the Hon. Dr. Findlay, who is also to visit London, the Upper House would be without a leader. If it were so desired, that.fact would not be allowed to stand in the way of Parliament being opened 1 , at the usual date. Seeing that the work in that branch of the Legislature during the initial month or so of each session is so light, surely an Acting-Leader could be appointed-? It would, however, seem as if the root of the trouble is that Sir Joseph Ward is unwilling to hand over the leadership of the House to anyone else for a few weeks. “It is desirable, if not an actual necessity, that I should bo back within a reasonable time of the ccmmenoement <>f the next- session,” is what lie told the House when the question wis being debated. On this subject, tso, the “Lyttelton' • Times” makes some pertinent remarks. “Naturally,” it says “lie (Sir

Joseph Ward) would like to be in his place when Parliament opens, but it is a poor compliment to his colleagues to say for a second time that none, of them can be trusted with the leadership during his absence. There may have been some excuse for this plea when lie was meeting a House of Representatives just fresh from the constituencies but now that all his policy measures have been prepared and discussed surely Mr Carroll might be left in charge for a month - dr so with perfect safety?” There is really no good reason at all why the business of the country should be delayed for a month this year. If Mr Carroll, who is the Premier’s first lieutenant, were entrusted 1 with the temporary leadership of the House, all the preliminary work, at any rate, would be disposed of prior to Sir Joseph Ward’s return. The way would then be clear for the House to deal with those important matters •which are awaiting urgent attention. In this connection it should be mentioned that Mr Massey promised that he and bis party would do everything in their power to push forward the work of the session. This offer had, however, no effect. Apparently the legislative requirements of the Dominion must be delayed!—for it is improbable that any very important matter will be dealt with this year — merely because the Prime Minister does not feel inclined to entrust, even for a few weeks one of his colleagues with the conduct of business in the House. Sir Joseph Ward’s attitude on the question is in striking contrast to that of the late Mr Seddon who, on one oc-ea-sin, when he went Home to attend one of the Imperial Conferences, left him in charge for the whole of a session. No matter in which light it is viewed the proposal to postpone Parliament without any apparent necessity can only be regarded as highly unsatisfactory.