The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 102, 10 July 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1877.

Astother fortnight and Parliament will be in session. Speculation is rife' as to what measures will be brought forward and whether the ministry will be able to tide over the session. These are questions which are almost next to impossible to answer with any degree of certainty ; still, some idea may be formed by those, in the habit of watching the progress of 'political events, and of observing the men engaged therein. To treat the last question first—" Will' ministers be able to tide over the session ?" We reply, that, we believe there is a strong probability of their doing so ; and we entertain this belief on the following grounds.; There is likely to be no unity of action in the so-callled opposition; the elements composing it, are too incongruous in their nature to warrant anything like a reasonable hope being entertained, of united action on the part of the men usually found sitting, opposite the Treasury benches. A well organized opposition, composed of men holding certain fixed and definite principles, and on great political questions acting together as one man, is a privilege of parliamentary government. It serves as a wholesome check on the proceedings of those in power, as well as having a tendency to correct and render more perfect such measures as are calculated to promote the welfare of the country. Acting under the leadership of one who commands the respect of the House, and has the confidence of his party, avoiding all petty quibbling at the ministerial programme, and only testing their strength on great questions, such an opposition, even if it has not a majority, still has the respect of Parliament, and as, should the Ministry be displaced by an adverse vote, — little difficulty in finding their successors in office, from the opposition ranks occurs, those members, who usually occupy the cross benches, and often hold the balance ofpower, hesitate less to vote against a Government, the members of which they may wish to see out of office, than they would do if amongst the ranks of the opposition they failed to find suitable successors to those whom they wish to displace. It was the absence of all these essentials in the so called opposition of last session, that was the real secret of the ministerial strength, and it is their absence now, that leads us to incline to the opinion, that the end of the coming session may find the men now in power, still seated on the Treasury benches. Men would rather put up with an evil the extent and power of which they know, than, by a change, render themselves liable to the consequences attendant upon what might prove a greater evil than the one, just got rid of.

And, now, as to the measures likely to come under the consideration of the representatives of the people. First and foremost, there are the amendments to be made in the " Counties Act." And in the discussion of these, we fear, that much time will be wasted by those whose rabid fondness of Provincialism precludes them from seeing any of its defects, as well as those, who, not so unreasonable as the more violeut champions of Provincialism, yet, cherish the vain hope, that they may yet restore it in a modified form. Each of these parties has nearly the same end in view, and the action of each will be, equally mischievous in obstructing the real business of the country. The questions of insular separation and the disposal of the land fund questions which are more or less connected, will, we fear, prove a fruitful source of the loss of time, to say nothing of those long discussions which inevitably arise when Finance is under consideration. Under these circumstances, there is reason to apprehend, that many useful, measures will either be hurried through at the end of the session, or will be ruthlessly consigned to the " slaughter of the innocents."

We hear, that a movement has been initiated in the Wainui district, having for its object the severance of that district from the Akaroa and Wainui road district. The reason assigned for this is, that there has been unfairness in the expenditure, and that Wainui has not received its just share. We cannot but express our regret, that this step has been thought necessary, inasmuch, as the multiplication of Road Boards will only tend to perpetuate those feelings of petty jealousy which too often distinguish Road Board management. If the County Council had allowed the Counties Act to come into full operation, and the Road Boards had become gradually merged into the County Council, the necessity for this separation movement would not have arisen.