The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1883. Politics.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1, 12 June 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 1883. Politics.

On Thursday next tbe session will be opened in Wellington. As the Minis-

try has not i ndicated by pre-sessional speeches the probable line of policy they will pledge themselves to, or the measures they will stake their political positions on, the country is generally in the dark as to what i.s fikely to be the programme for the be-j inning of tbo session. Whut the Minis ers appear to desire is a j.eviod of comparative politic;*! stagnation, and it i.s high'y probable they will bring forward Some «■! the Tills or monsnrps that were conveniently dron- icd last session . It is qniie e *. i ( l e u t that tb** present Ministry are confident that they possess a safe working majority iv the House, recent elections havius added to their strength. Whether this confidence will be justified by results is another thing. Major Atkinson's ** objec tionables," the so-called independent

members, nnv remember liis sneer at them, and revenge themselves by displaying independence enr-u__h, unexpectedly, to upset bis calciil->ti<>"*? '-n their support, when it is mo>t needed. Although he is now too experienced a tactician to be easily betrayed into

relying on such wavering support as that afforded by the " independent " members, ye* it is an easy mntter to promise a conditional allegiance that may deceive the most prudent leader. 'Ihe only thir.g Ministers have to fear as being- likely to make them vacate the Treasury Benches, is a coalition between the divided factions of tne Opposition. This is not an impossible event, for although the Opposition is as badly off for a policj as the Government, yet they may make the possession of the reins of power supply the place of one, and on that point join their forces to defeat the common enemy. Should such a course be pursued, it will be iuterestin-*- to watch the sequence of events, and the kaleidoscopic changes that will take place in the constitution of self styled parties, and the " wear**wandering " of independent members in search of a rail to sit upon. In th? struggle for place and power, the interests of the country will necessarily for a time be lost sight of by politicians, but happily New Zealand is so constituted that it will make very little difference, or at least no harm can be done tbat cannot be amended in a day or two after the struggle is ended, or a new, or a reconstructed Ministry is on the Treasury Benches. Il is to be regretted thai our member, the lion. Walter JoHNb.uV. who does Manawatu the honor to sit » _r it, was unable or dis-inclined to address his constituents before the session ; but as no one expected he wonld do so, no one was disappointed. Tv do bim justice he has proved himself an admirable Minister for Public Works, and we hope for the good of the country he will be able to maintain his position. He, with al the other members of the Ministry, will be able to give Parliament a good account of their stewardsh p. The only weak j. oint they display is that they propose to meet Parliament without a defined policy.