The Political Position

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 36, 7 September 1889, Page 2

The Political Position

The Wanganui Herald in an article dealing with the state of parties in the House says : - We believe the real secret of tbe "present position is this, that on both sides of the House theio are members who, .vhile united for the present either for or against the Atkiksdn Ministry, could not guarantee to work together 24 hours if a change were to take place. This state of things cannot be conducive to the public interest, and it is time *he country was appealed to on some purely party lines, so that those who are inc'ined to accept the ' shibboleth' may kuow their true position, and attach themselves where they feel the strongest attraction. The weakness of the ministry has been noticeable from the first, and the only excuse that can be found for keeping it in is that of Scobie Mackenzie that their measures can be kept out. But it is time for this to come to an end. Active administration in the Lands Department, a better supervision of Defence and Justice, and a thorough investigation into the Colonial Secre tary's Department are called for. New blood is wanted, and that can only be secured by going to the country. We anticipate, too, that in this respect the riews of the Premier, if they could be ascertained, are not far removed from our own. He must now be convinced of the weakness of the team with which he is harnessed, and would no doubt like to have a chauce of ' swopping horses' if he can get through the stream of a general election,