The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3933, 27 February 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1884.

That portion of Mr Sutton's speech at Hastings on Saturday, last which had reference to his position with regard to tho Ministerial party reflected the changed .opinions of the country. Mr Sutton's opponents, in consequence of what he said, have been pleased to think that he is trimmin"- his sails iv view of a possible change .of Government. Butln reality he is;doing liptliing of thp kincl. Last week wo pointed out, that the Government could advance no claim to a continuation of Mr Sutton's support. The Ministry have . gradually departed from the policy of tho party thoy represented, and it has eonseqnently come about that the public have lost confidence in the men now in offico. As tho Christchurch Press aays truly enough, there is a feeling abroad that- Ministers are. rapidly

drifting from the position taken up by the party that put the Hall Ministry in office. If there was one principle more than another which was affirmed when the Grey Government were defeated, it was that an end must be put to sham and humbug. While the people were being amused by eloquent descriptions of tbe grand results which -were to follow the adoption of a few "liberal" measures, the practical work of administration was to a large extent neglected. Hence the Hall Government resolved to get rid, with the least possible delay, of the socalled liberal measures in order to make room for the more prosaic work of attending to the business of the country. The successors of the Hall Ministry have gradually departed from tho line of policy then aproved of, till there is now very great danger of a repetition on a smaller scale let us hope, of the evils of 1879. A series of shams, says the Press, arc being offered, to the public. National Insurance is a sham; Federation is a sham; perpetual leasing is a sham. The one great difference between the state of things now and in 1879 is that we have a Colonial Treasurer who does comprehend our finances, and is not at all likely to play such fearful pranks with the credit and good name of the colony as his predecessor did ; nor would ho havo a deficit in his annual account of a million, and be ignorant of the fact. There is also another very important difference between the state of things then and now. In 1879 there was a party in opposition, out of which a competent and trusted Administration could be formed. But the existing- Opposition is a sham. Its leaders distrust each other more cordially than they do the Government. They have no common principles, and no aim beyond that of turning the Ministry out, trusting to the chapter of accidents for what may happen next. In such circumstances it is quite hopeless to expect that any good will come of the approaching session. Ministers cannot expect to carry any really useful legislation in the face of the coldness which exists between them and the poople. The Opposition must be conscious of the fact that they too can do nothing to improve their present position. As far ns the Press can discover the prevailing feeling in the country is that the sooner an appeal is made to the constituencies the bettor it will be for all concerned. Such being the case, it appears to be the duty of members of the House who aro not already committed to one side or the other to keep themselves as much as possible free from party entanglements. As a rule, independent members do no good either for themselves or tho country. As long as we have party government men must, generally speaking, take a side if they hope to be of any real service to tho community. But the existing state of politics is altogether exceptional. If the Ministry have ceased to be in sympathy with tho people, those who have hitherto aspired to take their places are both distrusted and despised. The only cure for the present unsatisfactory state of things is an appeal to the country at the earliest possible date.

We are glad to see that a good deal of interest is being taken in the election for Licensing Committees for this town, both sides beating up supporters and issuing instructions. We should mention, for the information of electors, that only those can vote whoso names appear on the Burgess lists now in force. Five candidates havo to bn elected from the seven who have been nominated, and tho election, being under the Regalation of Local Elections Act, any ballot paper will be informal upon which five names have not been left unerased. Thero being, therefore, seven nominations, tho elector has only the right to strike out two. Any " plumping," _ consequently, will render the ballot papor informal. The polling places will be, for the North Ward, Mr Weber's old mill; for tho Central Ward, the Receiver of Rates Office; for the South Ward, Mr TJryson's office, nour the Caledonian Hotel. Tho returning officers are—For the Central Ward, Mr W. Parker, sen. ; for the North Ward, Mr R. M. Miller ; and for the South Ward, Mr R. Williams. The election takes place tomorrow, the poll being taken from 9 o'clock in the morning till 6 o'clock in the evening.