The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1885. The Government

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 13, 11 July 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1885. The Government

Thk lamentable display of weakness on the part of the Ministry in allowing themselves to be bullied into the withdrawal of the Customs Tariff will bo very encouraging to the Opposition. In the face of the determined disapproval of every section of the community as represented by members of the House and by the Press, we do uot see how Ministers could help themselves. We do think, however, that they should have showed a bolder front, if only for the purpose of encouraging their individual and collective supporters. It is now too evident that any majority Ministers may hare is not a majority of supportars from conviction or from loyalty, but a majority made up of prudent men who are desirous of avoiding a period of political chaos such as was witnessed before the Stout- Yogel combination was made. While we disagree with Mmisters as to the mode of doing it, yet we are glad that the taxpayers — as will be seen in our Parliamentary news in another column — will be relieved from further burdens on the necessaries of life. In order to meet the loss, £50,000 worth of Deficiency Bills will be renewed for two years, and £20,000 for defence be taken out of loan. This will recoup the loss of £70,000 from the duties. After withdrawing the objectionable clauses from the Local Finance and Powers Bill, . Ministers will proceed with it and consider it a Ministerial Bill in the strictest sense of the term. That is to say, the Government proposes to stand or fall on the acceptance or rejection of this bill. Under existing circumstances the fate of this emasculated Bill maybe easily foretold.