The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4230, 16 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1876.

We hoped that before this time the session of Parliament would have been so far advanced that some idea might have been formed of the arrangements for the future administration of Colonial affairs. We were prepared for opposition, and regard fair and legitimate discussion as essential to the vitality of representative government. No measure, whether important or not, should be allowed to pass without being subjected to close analytical criticism. But thia process differs widely from that factious determination to oppose everything proposed by the Government which characterises the in* sane conduct of Sir George Grey, Mr Rees, and others. They well know that the disputed point of the alleged breach of the Disqualification Act cannot alter the position of parties, and they should know that their conduct must eventually lead to the alienation of those of their supporters who are not tainted with the same suicidal mania as themselves. It is this mania that blinds them to their true position. We offer no opinion on a subject that only a Court of Law can decide. The common-Bense view of the matter is that if the provisions of the Disqualification Act really bear upon the past formation of the Ministry, it can but apply to two members—and which are they ? Is it fair to the country that its public business should be paralysed and everything thrown into confusion by a factious few in Parliament who really seek to gain no point whatever by causing this embarrassment! If the Act were infringed, the technical blunder is cor rected, and the House placed in a position to transact public business. Had the point raised by the Opposition been one affecting the affairs of the country, we could have respected their motives and their tenacity of purpose ; but it must be plain, if they ever had influence with 4 the constituencies, they have taken the surestjmethod of destroying it. On no point of policy is this unseemly opposition basesi. When the Ministry, yielding to the objection, reduced their number to that insisted on by Sir Geo. Grey, the concession ought to have satisfied him and his party, and business should have been allowed to be proceeded with. • - othing is likely to result from this senseless proceeding on the part of the Gkey faction, but the knitting r together ofjthe'Government party, and a considerable addition to their numbers. Every move the Opposition takes tends to prove their utter inability to conduct the affairs of the country, and to show'* that%nothingsbut misfortune could result from their accession to power., The absolute unfitness for the leadership by Sir George Gkey has been shown from his very first . efforts in Parliament Mr Pyke's strong expression in regard to his course of conduct was warranted by it. He cannot follow, and to follow him is political self-destruction. It is absurd to suppose that even did the Government present themselves re-election they would be rejected by their constituents. The very same reasons that existed for 'flieir return at the last election have acquired additional force by the unseemly exhibition now performing. The tyranny of a minority was never so forcibly shown'in New Zealand, although Victoria" has suffered through a similar exhibition. Thus far J Ot°-g'/ has come pretty respectably through this "disreputable" conflict. The Superintendent, through taking no part in it, has been able to act as mediator, though without success. Mr Donald Reii> has taken a wise course, and Mr Stout has not derogated from his position. When"the changes necessary upon the Abolition of the Provinces are discussed, they will not, like some Auckland members, have lost their prestige through disgusting all sensible men by their setting physical endurance against mental superiority. Supposing the very unlikely result should be a change of Ministry, the Opposition propound no new theory; they are prepared with no new measures; the session would have to wait until a policy is prepared. Their weakness throughout has been that they have been without one. Nobody has ever known what they, wished; it has been a course of pure opposition—not of reconstruction. The House has already decided that Abolition must take place, and that the unity of the Colony shall continue. On,those points the were only at one on the question of Provincialism and Separation. No details were laid before the public, and it was known that on them they themselves were not agreed. What, then, could be expected from men whose all political course shows their ignorance of things as they are and unfitness for conducting them as they should be 1