The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1887. THE COMING STRUGGLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1712, 15 November 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1887. THE COMING STRUGGLE.

Any one who has taken the trouble to analyse the constitution of the present House of Representatives must have arrived at the conclusion that the contest of the session must be on the question ofProtection as against Freetrade. The main issue during the last election gradually drifted into one of support or opposition to the late Government. The result was that opponents far outnumbered the supporters and the Premier at once tendered to his Excellency the Governor his own resignation and that of his colleagues. But the opponents of the late Government comprised two sections — those who were returned to support Major Atkinson and those who were relumed pledged to oppose his restoration to power. There is no disguising the fact that there was quite as much opposition evinced to a removal ! of the Atkinsonian regime as there was of lack of support to the Stout- Vogel coalition. But, however, so far Major Atkinson and his colleagues have been enabled to hold their own m comparative peace. The lines on which the Ministerial policy has been framed are so far parrallel with those of the late Government that the Opposition have not seen their way to interfere to any very great extent. Still the Government have given grounds for serious dissatisfaction. Their refusal to give any details of the boasted saving of -£300,000 per annum is one of those high handed tricks to which Major Atkinson is by no means a stranger, and is only equalled m audacity by the course which rumor credits him with being about to pursue —that of proposing the estimates m block sums, again ignoring any obligation to furnish the House with details.

This growing feeling of dissatisfaction has evidently put the Opposition on their metal. A caucus of members who have declared m favor ol Protection has been held— in fact three meetings have been held — which have been attended not only by pronounced Protectionists— pure acd simple-r-but als by those m favor of a modified protection to local industries, At

these meetings several who have been regarded as Ministerial supporters were present, and were even nominated on the deputation appointed to wait upon the Premier. The object of the deputation was, we are told, to request Major Atkinson to consent to a reversal of a portion of the policy to which he stands committed and to carry through the House, by means of their support, a ; new Protectionist tariff. This Major | Atkinson has refused to dos and we now await further action on the part of the Oppositionists.