SHORT PARLIAMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3148, 18 February 1911, Page 9

SHORT PARLIAMENTS.

A REFERENCE TO HISTORY

The recent Home election occurring in December almost, if not. quite, creates a ; “record,” since there will thus have been three Parliaments in one. year. In any case one has to go back "more than two centuries to come to a year which includes two General Elections within' its limits. . This occurred in 1701, when there was a Parliament of George lll.’s that lasted but half of the time this one has in 1910. That Parliament was one of the shortest in our history, extending, as it clid, but six montlis. Yet even that short period has been beaten more than once in the curious life of the House of Commons. The famous “Praise God Barcbones” Parliament, during the Cromwellian regime lasted just over five months, from July 4th to December 15th. Again, in 1614, "King James I. had a Parliament which endured but six months or so, and was dissolved because it refused to grant the monarch money unless he did away with several grievances and oppressions from which the land was suffering at that time. In this year (1614) there were, therefore, two separate and distinct elections of a House of Commons, the novelty of which may thus be gathered when one. remembers that it lias only happened three times in.about 300 years. But- the shortest- Parliament on record is undoubtedly that which King Charles I. found so recalcitrant-in 1625, the gathering termed by historians “The Short Parliament.” This House of Commons sat but three months, for from its very first day the King and Parliament were at daggers drawn, and,Charles quickly cleared out an assembly which was more likely to trouble him constantly than to do exactly as he wished in every detail. . . 1 ■ Many yet living will remember, of course, the short Parliament under which lasted from December 1885, to the. August of 1886, when a fresh election was made. But even that Parliament really came to grief much sooner, for in June, (the Government was defeated. and resigned, and the Conservatives took office, only to rule until arrangements could be made for. a new election. Equally intersting it is to learn that the shortest Administration on record in onr annals was that' of a coalition under the Earl of Bath and Lord Granyille in 1746. This extraordinary Government lasted just two days’—viz., from February 10th to the 12th.