THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1773, 25 October 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1879.

Messrs Swanson, Hurst, Colbeck, and Reader Wood, have declared for the Government. Mr. Tomoana lias also agreed to vote with them. Such was the news received yesterday from the seat of war. These gentlemen have evidently become tired of the obstructive policy pursued by the Opposition. They have begun to see that an Opposition who could table a vote of confidence in a Ministry almost before that Ministry had taken their seats, before they had brought in any measures whatsoever, before they had declared their policy,, in fact, before they had begun drawing their legislative breath, are a body of men who are slightly too eager for office, and aro neither aware of the fitness of things, or in any way dei serving of support. A man who framed an indictment against an unborn Imbo would, by ordinary individuals, bo considered a lunatic. But the Macandrew party acted just as wildly. The Hall Government only opened its eyes on the political world to find a ready-made indictment duly framed and attested by the office-seekers who wished to step into their places. However, these extremely hungry gentlemen have, perhaps, miscalculated tho powers of the babe which they wished to crush. He was by no means the puny infant they desired. Ho was a strong and, moreover, wily young person, who his infantile wrappers, notwithstanding, set to work in a businesslike manner to improve the situation. Hie following was compact, and ho was quite determined that, though his life might be a short one, it should not be a useless one. He set his brains to work and searched among the musty pigeonholes of his new office, and discovered many curious secrets not redounding to the credit of his predecessors. Tho finances were, he found, in a dreadful condition; the liabilities incurred without votes were very large; and promises had been made to buy Native lands to the tune of some £1,200,000, a great part of which sum might, if the bargains were ever completed, be considered money thrown into the gutter. These facts, and a number of others of a damaging character, were hunted out of tho pigeonholes, and a truly liberal policy was framed—such a policy as tho Grey Government had never thought of carrying out during its long term of office. And the Hall Ministry has mot tho reward duo to its exertions. The country generally is apparently beginning to see that its true interest lies in supporting a Government which is at oace vigorous and thoroughly honest. Several Auckland members have—without urging tho selfish views advocated by the Auckland Press, to which wo advortod a few days back, —decided to throw in their lot with the new Ministry on the sole condition that Auckland shall have such a fair sharo of public works as it is entitled to by its contributions to the revenue. These gentlemen had been olected pledged to support Sir G. Grey and liberalism. Sir G. Grey had been found to be valueless as a party leader; ho had resigned, and these Aucklanders, being thus released from the pledge to support " men," have determined to turn their attention to support " measures." Notwithstanding the efforts of tho Opposition who offered Mr Wood the Treasurership and even tho Premiership, this northern contingent have determined no longer to aid the obstructive pseudo-liberals in their hunting after tho loaves and fishes of office, but to help tho Hall Government to carry through those measures which aro part of its programme, and which they are so capable of placing satisfactorily on tho Statute Book. It is to be trusted that other members - will follow their example. The administrative ability of the present Government rank* high and what New Zealand wants at tho present moment, almost more than Liberal Reform, is a thoroughly capable Ministry to rescue it out of tho financial quagmiro into which the incapacity of tho Grey Government has lauded it. Mr. Macandrew, when explaining in tho House tho little episodo botweon himself and Mr. Wood with reforenco to the Premiership, stated that it was " an after dinner affair." Tho history of a good many of tho transactions of tho late Government read like "after dinner affairs." Tho liabilities incurred without votes, tho promises to purchase considerably inoro than a million pounds' worth of Native land, somo of it particularly valueless, and tho general mixing up of accounts, road like jovial " after dinner " transactions, when tho heart is open, and tho brain is somewhat muddled. On tho whole, perhaps, tho country has had enough of au "after dinner Ministry,"

and is anxious to keep its affairs in the hands of the business-like men who are at present at the helm.