THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 7, 11 October 1879, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

[liY TELEGRAPH.]

(from our own correspondent.)

Wellington, Oct. 9.

Parties are about equally balanced, and there is no sign of a well supported Government from either side, when it comes to a question of purchasing Mr. Vincent Pyke. You need have no doubt as to which party will bid highest, or which will make the freest use of a live million loan to purchase block votes with promises. Every day shows more clearly that the scramble for borrowed money has demoralised the House so completely that honest Government is impossible until that corrupting element is removed either by the cessation of loans or by the adoption of some different tribunal to decide on the expenditure on public works.

It is greatly to he desired that the Hall Ministry will remain in oflico at least long enough to give the colony and its creditors a reliable statement of the present deplorable position of our finance, as unless they do, there is not the slightest chance of the naked truth being made known, or the necessary painful and unpopular measures adopted to make both ends meet. A very ugly state of things, too, I am sure, is to be discovered in the Native Department, as soon as an honest Minister has time to investigate it. October 10. Major Atkinson will make a financial statement on Tuesday next, in which the colony will hear some unwelcome truths as to the position in winch the Grey Government has left the Treasury, and the extent to which it has increased expenditure, and altogether shirked the duty of providing for it by unpopular taxes. The 'Triennial Parliament Dill prepared by the “ Liberal ” Government "was not to have affected the present Parliament, so that it would piohably have had no practical effect for the next eight years. So much for Groyism. The present Government will alter the Dill so as to give it effect on the present Parliament, thereby showing that they will practice, anti not merely preach, Liberalism. Friday, 8.20 p.m.

The Opposition have commenced their field-day by stonewalling the Triennial Parliaments Dill, Mr Sheehan having proposed the adjournment of the House, which has been talked over all the afternoon and evening. The new Premier and the Treasurer have both spoken in a panner that points to something very

dark that has to onnm out, and in a manner, too, that should load the late Government to insist upon their accusers having ample time and opportunity to prove or withdraw their statements. But instead of that they are descending to every low trick to immediately recover their foifeited seats.