The Evening Star FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4205, 18 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1876.

To all appearances, in the rejection of the Separation resolutions the Opposition have sustained a defeat decisive enough to render the position of# the Ministry secure for the rest of the session. The long negotiations between the different sections of the Opposition which preceded the tabling of Sir George Grey’s motion must have made the chiefs of the party thoroughly well acquainted with the views both of their ostensible followers and of those members of the House who, without having coalesced into a party or adopted a policy of their own, held aloof both from the Ministerialists and from the Opposition, perchance from motives of the profoundest patriotism, or may be for reasons of a less exalted kind. Hence it is to be presumed that, in adopting a Separation programme, they thought to have raised a banner beneath which the largest army possible could be got together; and when the result of the conflict gives the Ministry a clear majority of fifteen votes, it is pretty plain to the outside observer that the Opposition are not at present strong enough to eject the Ministry from their seats. Granted that several members voted with the Government on this occasion who ara hostile to their financial policy ; per contra, there are Separationists who voted for these resolutions who would not support a motion of want of confidence. Moreover, the struggle has consolidated the Ministerial party, which before was almest without cohesion, and it will be in future a drilled phalanx ready to fight for the Government in the hour of peril. But however satisfactory this may be in one sense, the general aspect of affairs is discouraging enough. In a few Weeks the Abolition of Provinces Act will take effect, and Provincial institutions will be numbered amongst the things of the past; and what is there to replace them ? Absolutely nothing as yet. Not a vestige of the machinery ot Local Government has yet been created to fill up the gap in our Constitutional system which the demolition of Provincial institutions will leave. A Counties Bill is, indeed, before the Assembly, but it seems to be little better liked than was the Local Government Bill of last session ; and the Ministry, it was understood, intended either to withdraw it or to materially modify its form, when Sir George Grey stepped in with a notice that ho would move as an amendment to the second reading of the Bill that it be read a second time that day six months. The Ministry will thus once more be put upon their trial they cannot shirk the issue; but their party now being organised, they will probably be able to defeat the amendment, and the Bill will pass through its second reading. As soon, however, as the Bill gets into committee the floodgates of private opinion will be opened, and there will be a torrent of amendments of every kind and degree, beneath which the measure can hardly fail to sink; and even if it survive the ordeal, it is not by such a method that a statesmanlike measui-e, can be expected to be framed. All important Bills are subjected to considerable amendments in committee; but the mischief here is, that the House being agreed upon no particular principle as that which should pervade the Bill, all sorts of incongruous elements are likely to be introduced into it. Yet the Counties Bill is all we have to look to, as matters now stand; and the country will watch the proceedings of the Assembly during the next three or four weeks with deep anxiety. Already there are signs of disintegration and neglect of duty. Members are beginning to go home, Mr Reader Wood, Sir George Grey’s lieutenant, is, we are told, about to return North, and will not again make his appearance in Wellington this session. Two or three Otago members have likewise come back to their homes. What are they doing here ? Why are they not in their places in Parliament at this most important juncture of affairs? They caunot urge the undue length of the session, for it has only lasted two months as yet; and if the private business of gentlemen is of such a nature that they cannot afford to spend the time in Wellington necessary for the performance of their Parliamentary duties, they should not present themselves for election. When the Rattle is raging, every man should be at his post, and not pretend to fight by proxy. Let them take the hint and be gone quickly.