New-York tribune., 1905-02-13
BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY PROSPECTS

There seems to be a premonition that the
forthcoming session of the British Parliament
which begins Tuesday, will be the last of
the present House of Commons The ground
Tor that is not, however, apparent A Parlia-
ment usually comes TO an end in one of three
ways. 1t reaches the limit of its legal term
or the Ministry is defeated or q dissolution Is
voluntarily sought for tactical reasons. We
cannot at this distance see that any of those
causes is likely TO operate this spring or at
any time this year. Obviously the first will not
This Parliament is still comparatively young
1t dates from December 8, 1900 and has thus
lived out less than four and One-quarter of the
seven years to which it is entitled. True, no
Parliament lives out its full term. But not for
many years has one been dissolved in less than
five years without some other cause than time.
This is the fifteenth Parliament of Victoria and
the first Of Edward VII. The fourteenth lasted
five years and six weeks the twelfth five years
and nearly eleven months the tenth more than
five and a half years, the ninth more than six
years, the eighth five years and seven weeks,
and the sixth six years and five weeks On
the ground of time therefore, this Parliament
should not be dissolved for at least q year TO
come.
1t does not appear that any tactical advan-
tage TO the government demands an early dis
solution. There is no troublesome issue on hand
which the Ministry wishes to avoid, nor is there
any current circumstance or opportunity which
it wishes to improve. The new session bids
fair to be a practical but not sensational one.
1t begins late since Easter comes very late
this year, and there will be short time for
voting Supply between February IA and March
81, and the time will probably be practically
monopoliZed by that supreme obligation Other
topics must wait until after April l. Even then
1t is doubtful If any seriously contentious issues
are raised. Redistribution is said to have been
shelved, and the next election, whenever it
occurs, will probably be conducted upon the
present inequitable system, which is as bad
as the inequality between our own Southern
and Northern States. immigration and some
other matters connected with social and indus
trial reform are likely TO be considered, but
over them there will be little controversy. OF
| course the Budget is an unknown quantity,
| and 1t may contain some surprises, such as
revenue tariff. but that is not likely. Mr.. Bal
| four is understood to be averse-and logically
soto raising the general fiscal issue in this
| Parliament
The dominant fact of the situation, after ALL
is that Mr.. Balfour remains in full control His
notably successful leadership of his party and of
| the government remains unimpared Seldom in
! English history has Prime Minister maintained
| a more perfect mastery Of the situation, in diff.
| fcult circumstances. He has held his Parlia-
| mentary majority IN hand with unrivalIed tact
/ and with undoubted force of both moral and in.
| tellectual leadership with a success seldom an
| proximated. and is consequently well able TO
| choose his own time for dissolution. There is no
| reason at present apparent why he should not de-
fer the appeal TO the people. 1t is true that the
PREDICTIONS have largely been adverse TO him,