The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-05-19
"A Parallel Case.

Governments everywhere are constantly
assailed about delay in this, that, or the
other thing which, being a hobby with the
critic overshadows all other things in his
mind Such complaints are constantly be-
ing made against our own Government,
and, with the same breath they are accused
of spending too fast, and not spending fast
enough. TO the simple fact, which we rea-
sOnably have supposed every one could re-
cognize, that the work VIII .ch tie assembly
sanctioned to be done by the aid of two
years revenue, and a large sum of borrowed
money, could not be accomplished in a few
months, these critics seem to be wholly OBJ
liviOus. The following reply of Mr.. Glad
stones to opponents who accused the adj
ministratiOn of dilatOriness in regard to a
certain promised measure, might be made
use of with but a few changes of words by
our Hawaiian Premier, both in relation to
the imperatively necessary attention to GER
tain matters, especially the matters of
finance, which inevitably delays other
things, and to the foolish complaints with
the ways of previous governments which
are sometimes hazard by our political
writers.
Speaking in the House of Commons on
April 18th, the subject under discussion be-
ing Local Government Reform, Mr.. Glad
stone said:
The right honorable gentleman complained that
nv honorable friend behind me proposed an
amendment which is in the nature of a dilatory
plea, and ought, on that account, to be rejected by
the House. There is. no occasion for a dilatory
plea on this question. We have been told from the
opposite bench that there is q great zeal on this
side of the House for a reform of local govern
ment; and we, on this side, have never scrupled to
say that we deem it an essential condition of any
satisfactory and comprehensive measure for the re-
adjustment of local taxation. l doubt very much
whether the right honorable gentleman is wise in
provoking a comparison of the relations OF the
present and past government respectively to the
subject of local government. "Oh!") 1t Is
per. ectly true that we have been three years in Of
flee, and it is perfectly true that we have intro
lupSl no bill for the reform OF local government;
bat have we lost any opportunity for introducing
or pushing forward such a bill? (Cheers.) What
was the session, and what the period, when there
had been time TO procure the favorable discussion
of such a bill? ooh - cheers, and a voice-'The
Affirmation Bill.") The House knows perfectly
well that our first session commenced well IN the
middle of May, and that even in that session a
large portion Of time was occupied with Irish af-
fairs (ironical cheers) of the most urgent character.
Our second session was given almost entirely to
affairs connected with the condition Of things in
Ireland, such as were almost without precedent.
Ironical cheers.) And then again last year, when
we did not scruple to advise the delivery from the
Throne of q speech positively holding out the ques-
ton of local government as a principal subject to
engage the attention OF Parliament, once more i'm
perative necessityconnected with the state OfIreland
interviewed. Laughter.) 1t was absolutely, there
fore, and VIGOROUSLY, beyond our power to submit
this great and comprehensive subject TO the con
sidsration Of the House. Whether that is the case
OF the late government L am not sure. 1 am not
aware that any great exigeRcy in Ireland or else
where, or any great works of legislation in this
House stood between the late government and the
most effective handling OF the great subject OF
local government. 1t has been inability and not
want of will-inability from the irresistible pres
sure Of imperative demands-that has prevented
what 1 will not hesitate TO say would have been
the redemption of the pledges that we had given
when, in addressing the constituencies of this coun-
try in 1880, we held up local government as the
subject that ought to engage the practical atten-
ton Of the present government. Theirs is no ques-
ton of a d~ilatory plea except where there has been
delay, and there has been no delay, except where
time has been appropriated otherwise which might
have been given to the discussion