The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 4.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 309, 4 July 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 4.

To the general public it seems a fine thing to be a Minister. The duties, of the office for the greater part of the year would appear to consist in travelling about the country in special trains and the Hinemoa, writing "approved" at the foot of documents previously marked " recommended" by some under-secretary, attending congratulatory banquets where no political subject is to be permitted to mar the, evening's festivities, and drawing periodically certain substantial emoluments in the shape of salary and " allowances." It is true- that there is a crumpled'ro'se-leaf in the couch of : that T this agreeable routine is diversified-by being compelled to receive obnoxious • deputations, clamorous with, all kinds of wants, from an endowment in land for some impracticable harbor scheme, to a goods-shed at a country railway station. But a very little practice enables any' Minister who has even matriculated in political life to send these hungry deputationists empty away, even while making them believe that they are about to be filled with good things. We heed scarcely say tlvnt anyone with the slightest acquaintance with public affairs knows that", the picture we have just drawn is a purely fancy sketch; that no Minister can possibly escape a large amount of exceedingly worrying responsibility, and a great deal of downright hard work. But even if it were true, even if the recess really meant a long holiday for Ministers, there is a grand compensation clause in all mundane affairs, and the sword of Damocles is ready for suspension over the heads of those who sit in high places. Speaking of a parson in the old days when tithes were collected in kind, Cowper says :—

" That parson merry is and blithe, Three quarters of the year, But, oh, it cuts him like a scythe When tithing time draws near." Now to a Government, whether it has been neglectful, incompetent, or merely unfortunate, the meeting of Parliament must be " Tithing time." All sorts of awkward questions are sure to be asked. A host of unfulfilled promises have to be explained away. Some impertinent member is sure to move for all the papers relating to some transaction, which on the face of it does look like a job, though it is capable of the most satisfactory explanation. It is these petty skirmishes that worry and detach supporters. A grand fight on some question of policy comes to bo regarded as quite a relief. To come from generals to particulars, there is no doubt that the present Government, or those members of it who remain will have their hands full when the Assembly meets. Among the difficulties of their position are to be enumerated a failing exchequer, a Native difficulty, which may by that time have burst forth into open warfare, and last, but not least, divided counsels' amoug themselves. Just at the time when Govertment needed all its strength, it has been weakened by two serious defections from its ranks. That of Mr Stout we have already referred to. The late Attorney-General pleaded urgent private affairs as his reason for discarding the cares of office, but rumors of serious diseensfons in the Cabinet have been rife for. so, long,, and have now .received such intense corroboration, that itis'impossibie to avoid the conclusion that these had something to do with his retirement. Now Mr Ballance has gone. In another column we publish an account of the circumstances leading to his resignation, as detailed by the Wellington Evening Chronicle. Of course, as this journal professes to give an account of what must have been a private interview between two Ministers, the report must be accepted cum grano, but it is nevertheless, doubtless correct that the" Colonial Treasurer resigned through some personal disagreement with the Premier. These defections will seriously weaken the Government, if indeed it will be possible for Sir George Grey to stand practically alone, or to secure the adhesion of men who would be able to command the confidence of the House.

Altogether, with possible Native disturbance, with a.-probable considerable falling off in the revenue, and the loss of two good men from the crew of the ship of State, the political outlook is sufficiently gloomy to cause serious apprehension.? to every well-wisher to his adopted country. We feci confident, however, that there exists sufficient patriotism and ability in the Assembly to grapple with whatever' difficulties may arise, though we cannot but feel that under present circumstances the Liberal policy which we hud hoped to see fairly launched, may meet witii a seriouy, though temporary check.