The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, JULY 1. 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1002, 1 July 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY, JULY 1. 1881.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just The pen is mightier than the sword.

The double defeat of the Government since the opening of Parliament—on the election of licensing commissioners, and the admission of the Press to report on any case in which Civil servants or other persons in the Government employ are charged with an offence—in spite of the assertions that the defeats were due to the carelessness of the Government whips and supporters, is to us, and must be to the mind of every person who is watching the course of events, significant of the weakness of the Government. The Opposition—if, indeed, there is such a thing—have not yet shown their teeth, but over the local government measure and the Representation Bill they are expected to show a united front. Over these questions a hard battle will be fought, and on the result depends the tenure of office of the Hall-cum-Atkinson oum-Rolleston faction. It is rumored, but with truth at this distance from the seat of Parliament it is impossible to say, that proposals for the appointment of a Select Committee to report on the working of local government and the county system especially have been made ; but v-hether Ministers will agree to relegate these questions to a committee, or fight the battle out manfully is not yet known. As the question of local government is the one of all questions, we prefer the latter course, and shall watch with more than ordinary interest the turn things take.