THE PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1024, 7 November 1871, Page 2

THE PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1871.

The policy of the present Government is to drift, to keep the vessel of state off from the rocks and shoals on which, if not pulled up by a strong cable, it must ultimately become a total wreck ; and as lon* as possible to float along easily on the°current of popular favor, with only one object in view— not to labor hard to save it, but to stick to it so long as smooth seas and fair winds prevail, and to be ready to abandon it to its fate on the nrst appearance of real danger. This policy has been displayed during the last two sessions, but most conspicuously during the present one. Everything has been in a state of drifting from day to day. The Government was without a fixed policy ; anything could be altered to suit the wishes of the House ; on no given point would they make a stand, they chose rather to withdraw any Bill when serious opposition arose rather than venture to fiaht its principles out and thereby endangering their seats of office ; and in this way the Colony has lost the advantages of nearly every Bill of importance which has been brought in to the Assembly this session, and what is yet in store when "the Slaughter of the Innocents commences is difficult to imagine. From day to day the policy of the Government is in a transition siate-if policy it may be called The present holders of the Ministerial Benches may truly be described as bein", or pretending to be "all things to all men," so that they may win some, keep others in a state of doubt, and, above all things, allow them to retain their seats, secure the manipulation ot the loan, and the increased power and patronage thereby conferred both in the House and out of it. It is only by this process of drifting about from one point to another that the present Government has succeeded so long in remaining m office. The best proof of this is the want of cohesion among the members^oE the Cabinet themselves. They appear to have no political opinions in common, to be made up of the most antagonistic elements, and to be ready at any moment to fly asunder. The recent retirement or the hon. Mr Sewell from the Ministry gives a little insight into the materials ot which the Cabinet is composed. In announcing to the Upper House his retirement he admitted that there were no two questions upon which the members were aareed. and as he way of the carrying out their schemes he retired, rather than bring about a dissolution of the Government, as had been threatened by Mr Fox. The hon. Mr Waterhouse was then called upon to join the Ministry and take charge of the Government business in' the "Upper House. This at first he positively refused to do, but on the representations of Mr Fox, afterwards consented to join the Ministry so far as taking charge of the Government business in the Council during the remainder of the session. He stated that he would not, under any circumstances whatever, now or after the session was over, consent to take a Ministerial Office, but that in the meantime he would take a seat in the Cabinet, but without the emoluments of office. In announcing to the Upper House his temporary acceptance of office, Mr Waterhouse made the following explanation : — " I feel that this was not in itself altogether an advisable course, and that it was desirable that the Government should be represented, not only by some member of the Council agreeable to take up the conduct of the Government business, but by a member of the Council, having the responsibility attaching to the possession of a Ministerial office, and, consequently, with that departmental knowledge that •was attendant npon such a position. But at the same time I feel that in the present political circumstances of the Colony, it might be desirable that I should accede to my hon. friend's request, and the reasons that influenced me were twofold. I felt that Ministerial complications just at this period would have the effect of unduly prolonging the session, and of keeping us away from our homes at a period when, with most of us, it is a matter of importance that we should get to our homes, to superintend the important matters which engage the attention of most of us at this period of the year. The other consideration that influenced me was that I felt while temporarily accepting a Ministerial position, I should be smoothing the way for the formation, immediately after the business of Parliament is over, of a ■stronger and more permanent administration. I have always felt, since 1 have had the honor of a seat in this Council, that the administration of the country has not been conducted in a satisfactory manner ; that to a very great extent the government of tlie country has been drifting instead of being administered ; and I do hope, and hope still, that the result of my taking office, though it be but for a few days, may be that I have an influence in endeavoring to induce my colleagues to lay down a rule of action as regards the conduct of the government of the country that may be beneficial to the Ministry in office, and beneficial to the conduct of business generally. For it is for these reasons, and for these reasons only, that 1 have accepted what I feel to be the ungrateful position of appearing before this Council as the Ministerial representative." Coming from such a high authority, the statement cannot be doubted that the government of the Colony has been drifting; its affairs have not been properly administered ; the fundamental principles of government have not been adhered to ; and recourse has been had to any expedient to get out oi every temporary difficulty which has risen up in its way. One of these " little difficulties," which illustrate the drifting process, is the existence of the deficienoy of £60,000 from, last

year, which this year was found not to be paid off, but to meet which the Treasurer proposed to issue a Deficiency Bill, not for £60,000, but for £100,000, and on his single statement the House was asked to give him power in this simple manner to borrow an additional £40,000 ; and even in the Bill brought down for this purpose there is no reason assigned why such an authority should be given. If he gave no reason why the vote should be passed, his previous Financial Statement furnishes good reasons why such an authority should not be given, if they had been duly considered by the House. In the course of that speech he said—" I have not yet re ferred to the £60,000 overdraft. This I justly estimated as a liability, and proposed to pay it out of the assets. I have not done so. Although there has been no pressure on the Treasury, it has been, on the whole, more convenient not to pay off the money. Indeed, there are reasons why it is unnecessary to do so." Now, according to his present views, not only must that money be paid— and provision was made a day or two ago by the Treasury Bills Bill— but an extra £40,000 as well, seemed to be wanted, notwithstanding that lab year he told the House that it was unnecessary to pay oft the £00,000 and that there was no pressure on the Treasury. What guarantee is jmere that the amount will be paid off this year, even with the £100,000 ? None at all ; and it is great folly for the Colony to go plunging into debt, incurring liabilities on all hands, borrowing money to meet current expenditure, while the ordinary revenue is falling off year by ye.ar. In the face of all this the House was asked by the Public Revenues Bill to grant further borrowing powers, when they have already borrowed yearly £160,000 for defence purposes ; were asked to sanction the expenditure upon Road Boards of £100,000 out of the loan ; also an overdraft for £100,000 ; and it wonld also be required to borrow another £45,000 to pay the interest upon the loan ; so that, in fact, for the mere ordinary purposes of Government, the Colony is now living at the rate of £405,000 a-year beyond its ordinary revenue. Surely that is drifting, and with a strong current toe. In addition to all this, it is generally lost sight of that there are Treasury Bills afloat to the amount of £520,000, which are, in fact, deficiency bills, which have been passed on from year to year to enable the Government to balance its revenue and expenditure. This system has been going on since 1866, and it appears we are further than ever from being able to meet bills. If we add on the deficiency likely to arise this year (because there is every reason to believe the additional powers will be granted to the Treasurer), the Colony will soon have a debt of £710,000, nearly three-quarters of a million beyond all the large loans which have been incurred for special purposes. It is certainly high time that the colonists took a more lively interest in politics, and gave these matters their serious consideration, as the Colony is drifting fast to ruin, and its progress can only be arrested by the strength of public opinion. '