The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 1884. Political

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 34, 2 September 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 1884. Political

The position of parties in the House is certainly much worse than it was when the Governor granted a dissolution in order that the country might be able to return a body of men to Parliament, from whom could be selected a Ministry capable of undertaking the management of its affairs. We need not recapitulate the events of the last few days, which must be familiar to everyone in the Colony. Suffice it to say that in the whole history of representative Government we do not believe a parallel case could be found. Sir Geo Gbet has placed a most mischievous part in bringing about the defeat of three successive Ministries, and the unexampled eccentricity, to call it no milder term, of assisting to defeat the very man, Major Atkinson, whom he had recommended the Governor to send for, shows that Sir George is hardly fit to hold the position of a legislator. The loyalty of " his tail " is highly commendable, and the docility with which the members who compose its joints wag at the behest of the wily old hero speaks well for the control he exercises over them. On the other hand, it is a very contemptible position for men to occupy who are supposed to represent various sections of a community which is said to be the most free on earth. The rumour which was wired to the Press late on Saturday afternoon, to the effect that Mr Waterhouse, M.L.C., had been sent for, turns out to be untrue. This gentleman was at the head of a Ministry from October 11th, 1872, to March 3rd, 1873, and had as his colleagues, who are now in the House, viz., Yogel, Colonial Treasurer and PostmasterGeneral ; J. D. Obmond, Public Works; E. Richardson, Public Works ; G . M. O'Rocke, Secretary for Crown Lands and Minister for Immigration. There* was no reason that we were cognizant of which would prevent the same men joining him again, with the exception perhaps of Sir M. O'Rorke, who is better placed as Speaker of the House. The addition of Major Atkinson and Mr Wakefield would have made a strong Ministry, which — Sir George Grey notwithstanding — would possibly have commanded a good working majority in the House. It seems, however, that we were doomed to disappointment even in this matter. Chaos has come again, and all the valuable time which has been wasted counts for nothing except the bleeding of an enfeebled Treasury in paying men who seem determined to do as little as possible in return for their honoraria. If the three parties— Gbet, Atkinson, and Stout- Vogel — do not promptly come to some definite conclusion to allow the business of thje country to go on, nothing remains but a dissolution, which would have the effect of bringing them to their senses.