The Globe. WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1356, 19 June 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 1878.

Ever since the delivery of the now famous speech at Martou, the Ministerial journals have been industriously “ pegging away” at the task of reconciling the Grey and the Ballance policy. “ Unanimity of opinion on all public questions,” wo are told by the Wellington Ministerial organ, “in any Cabinet would bo an absolute miracle. ‘ Talk of divided Houses,’ said Lord Chatham, ‘why there never was an instance of a united Cabinet.’” And although our contemporary goes on afterwards to state that there is no real difference between Sir G. Grey and Mr. Ballance on the question of manhood suffrage, ho evidently regards the above extract a perfect answer to the charge made regarding the wide divergence between the head of the Government and the majority of his colleagues. Now, no one for a moment expects to find a Cabinet composed of men who think absolutely alike on all subjects. Perfect agreement on all political matters cannot possibly bo hoped for. But wheat the public have a right to expect is that they shall agree as regards their announced policy. If there is any great divorgncce of opinion the members of the Cabinet are expected to keep it to themselves. But that is just what the present Government have not done. In nearly every corner of the land the Premier has been trying to win support for his Ministry on the faith of a policy announced by him as that of his Government. On those occasions ho was speaking, not as a private member of the House, but as the head of the Cabinet, and whatever support lie received was based on the belief that he was announcing a Government policy. That policy was, as our readers are aware, manhood suffrage, and, as a consequence, the abolition of the property qualification, a large reduction in the Customs duties, and the imposition in the place thereof of a land tax, and the introduction of a liberal land law. If there was one fact more firmly impressed on the public mind than another it was this, that measures embodying those principles would be introduced during the approaching session. Hence the anxiety to hear what Mr. Ballance had to say, and the surprise with which his speech was received on all sides. It was at once discovered that there were not only two parties in the Cabinet, but that both had announced their policy, and were appealing in the character of rivals to the suport of the public. The Ministerial organ in Wellington apparently thinks that the colony had nothing of which to complain; that Ministers wore at perfect liberty to announce their individual views on Ministerial measures, though these opinions were wide as the poles asunder. Were such a principle recognised there would be an end to Ministerial responsibility. If Sir G. Grey can remain at the head of the Cabinet and at the same time denounce a measure introduced by his own colleagues as so iniquitous that he would continue to oppose it “ so long as God gave him strength to struggle against it,” then what is to become of the privileges of Parliament P The Ministry are understood to represent the mows of the Parliamentary majority, and, when they cease to do so, they have to retire, but if the different members of the Cabinet appeal to the opposing sections of the House for support, what is to happen then? It would have been bad enough had Sir G. Grey’s speeches been made before his Ministry was formed, but such was not the case. The views expressed hy him were given to the colony as those of the Grey Ministry, and as such they wore welcomed by his supporters at the time. Wo admit that Ministers have a precedent for the course they are taking. There was a period in English history when Ministers hold voyy opposite opinions, and acted on them. In the days of James the Second there was no necessary agreement between the great Otncors of State. Each Minister took his own course in the advice which ho gave to the Crown, the views and wishes of Parliament were altogether ignored, and a reign of despotism established, which resulted in the revolution oi ’ IGSB. But what’

ever ilio wishes of tho Premier may lie, the colony is not likely long to submit to a system of personal rule such as is implied in tho present mode of conducting public business in New Zealand. ,jWo propose to deal in another article with the attempt made by the New Zealander to reconcile the views of Sir G. Grey and Mr Ballanco.

Now that the complete text of the report of tho Oahlo Conference has reached us, wo are enabled to estimate tho value of tho conclusions arrived at. It was agreed that the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria bo empowered to enter into an agreement and contract with the Eastern Extension Company for a second cable from Singapore direct to Baujoowangio, avoiding tho Java land lines, and thence to Port Darwin for an annual subsidy not exceeding £32,400. This subsidy is to bo payable for a period not exceeding twenty years, and in consideration thereof the Company is to maintain in full working order both cables. The Company are also to reduce tho charges for Government messages between England and Port Darwin to the extent of 60 per cent., and their charges for Press messages to tho extent of 75 per cent, on tho present rates. Provision is to bo made in tho contract for tho purchase by the combined colonies of tho duplicate cable, on equitable terms, at any time during tho currency of the subsidy. In calculating the amount of subsidy to be paid to the company, the actual cost of the duplicate cable is to bo the basis. Population is to bo the basis of tlio contribution of tho various Australasian colonies, In the first instance tho populations of tho several colonics, as officially estimated on 31st December, 1876, is to bo the basis of the proportionate allotment of cost to each. But this is to bo readjusted on the basis of tho next general census, and then once every five years.

Tho obvious fault of tlio above arrangement is that it does not secure to tho colonies a perfectly independent and soparale lino of communication. Tho two cables will be laid in tho same shallow" seas, and bo liable, from the same causes, to interruption. A direct lino from tho Australian Continent to Ceylon w T ould have given tho colonies a moans of communication with Europe passing almost entirely through British territory. Tho value of such a lino of communication is obvious, both from an Imperial and commercial point of view. The cost however would have been very much greater. Tho original outlay w r ould have been larger, and the necessity of keeping separate repairing stalls would have considerably added to the annual expenses. Besides, it would scarcely have been an honourable course to take to have gone into competition with tho Eastern Extension Company, who were the first to place these colonies in direct telegraphic communication with the old world, at a largo outlay, and as yet with no great pecuniary reward, All things considered, it will bo generally admitted that the course adopted by the conference, as regards a second cable, was tho wisest that could be taken.