The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1883. The Session.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 3, 16 June 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1883. The Session.

«. The Governor's speech, as an exposition of the intentions of Ministers, contains neither more nor less than was generally expected. That is to to say, that there is really nothing in it that we did not know before from watching 1 the current of events, and noticing the pre-sessional speeches of Major Atkinson. The only positive indication of a material change is an alteration in tae consritution of Parliament by substituting an elective for a nominated Legislative Council. Sir Geokge Gkey plays a higher card, and he has «iven notice of an intention to introduce a Bill to abolish the Upper House altogether. This will have the effect of forcing Ministers to give their views on this matter earlier than they perhaps intended or desired, bin, as it appears that they, as . well as Sir Geokge Grey, have many . views in common on the question, it may be presumed that the fate of the Lords is now sealed. "What object is gained by proposing what appears a kind of amendment on a clause of the Governor's speech is not very clear The only interpretation of the movement is that Ministers proposed to divert the attention of members from other apparently less important matters, but upon which their positions on the Treasury Benches depended. ' If this surmise is correct there'ean be no doubt that astute politician, Sir G. Giiey, has taken the proper mode to ' defeat any such intention. It appears that, as yet, Sir George Grey and Mr Montgomery are both posing- as leaders of the Opposition, or rather that their separate followings have not yet been fused into a consistent mass. This will prove embarrassing for a while, and "will enable the Go- . vernment to strengthen its ranks by > recruits from among the undecided or independant members who have not r yet learned what kind of political opinions are the most profitable*, or, at , least, the safest or most pleading to their constituents. The motion of Sir George Grey that a land tax be imposed will meet stern oppositijn from a large section of both Houses. I We will exoect to read many inter- , esting speeches on the land question, and the difficulties to be met from ignorance, prejudice, and powerful " interests. The great battle of the session will be fought over this question, and in future years we may safely expect it to have a historical interest. The debate will bring forward those men, both iv Parliament and in the large centres of population, t who will be advocates of asjatem of nationalisation of the land, As Henry George writes — " The earth is an i entailed estate — entailed upon all generations of men, by v deed written in the constitution oi nature — a deed ' that no human proceedings can bar, i and no prescript-ion determine." A ' land tax will be the first step towards carrying out the views of the retorme.rs in this direction, and Sir George Grey, by his proposition, will receive a large share of outside support, and his influence in the House materially ■ added to. In proportion as his folI lowing becomes strong, Mr Monti qomery's must becomn weak, ar.d vice versa, and the end may be the formation of a compact Opposition.