THE Grey river Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1201, 4 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey river Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1872.

It is now thoroughly and definitely settled that the next Parliamentary session will. commence on the 15th of July next, and the business that will then be undertaken will be of the gravest nature. The Ministry will most certainly be assailed on a variety of grounds, but, as far ps an opinion can at present be formed, without the least probability of their positions being disturbed. The San Francisco mail contract will doubtless be one of the pieces de resistance of the Opposition, but it is not at all likely that the Executive will make that a Cabinet question,,and whether its opponents succeed in carrying any motion for its "cancellation or not, it will not affect the Ministerial position. There can be no doubt that this will be one of the sore spots for the Opposition to aim at, but the result will be harmless. Again, there appears to be every reason to expecb a deficiency once more, and it is not possible that it can be met out of the loan, so additional taxation of some kind or other must be resorted to. Last year it was rumored, and wo have reason to believe on good grounds, that the Executive intended to propose an income tax, but that it was withdrawn at the last moment. Such a tax, however distasteful to many of the legislators who count their' annual incomes by thousands, cannot but be equitable, the burdens of the country being thereby placed on the shoulder? best fitted to carry them. At the same time, it must be evident that such a tax would meet with strong opposition, and as it must, if proposed, be a Ministerial question, the Government coach might possibly be upset by a fluke as it were, a schism amongst Ministerialists being thereby created. A few days ago we pointed out the large income that could be righteously gathered from a wool export duty, but there is little hope of such being imposed, however just under the circumstances of the Colony it may be. It may be argued this deficiency proves that the financial policy of the Government is faulty, but such cannot be upheld. The Colony is as it were, under the new regime, entering into business on a largo scale. The millions of uncultivated and hitherto worthleas acres of rich land are about to be peopled. t The railway, the road, and the telegraph are about to penetrate into what have hitherto beon the wilds of Now Zealand, and as a matter of course the expenses at the beginning are draining capital away. This, however, is but temporary, and in a year or two the fruits of the enterprise will be patent in a large and prosperous population, located in happy homes, in places that now are occupied by kakas and Maori hens. We learn from the Wellington Independent, which is the acknowledged Ministerial organ at headquarters, the most important measures will be introduced early in the session, and therefore be disposed of without delay. It is most probable that the Colonial Treasurer will do as he has done on previous occasions, and bring down some startling reforms or propositions. Few could forget the first session on whichhemetParliaraent, and the mannerinwhichhislmmigration and Public Works scheme dazzled the then House of Representatives, and should he, as is very probable, bring down any equally bold policy, embodying a departure from old fogyism and red-tape, it would be no more than might be expected. Though determined clearly to crush out Provincial institutions, he has gone to work in the most methodical manner. He is apparently a disciple of Isaak Walton, of angling fame, who instructs the fisherman when impaling a worm on his hook to handle it gently, as though he loved it. The Colonial Treasurer is so handling Provincialism, and is leaving it to gradually expire of inanition without violence. As limy be supposed, the ultraProvincialists have at last taken the alarm, and as we have previously pointed out, in their hostility lies a great danger to the Ministry. But whilst naturally feeling deeply interested in the great questions _of the day that must be brought forward, not only Greymouth, but the whole of the West Coast of this island, must feel specially concerned on the action that may be taken in reference to the future administration of Us affairs. From Cape Farewell to Martin's Bay, where the Otago bonudary joins Westknd, there i 3 a universal feeling :>f discontent at the existing rule. The inhabitants of the Nelson South- West Gold Fields, as they are termed, have expressed" themselves strongly on the subject, and one of the most numerously signed memorials, expressive of their dissatisfaction, that has ever been sent, will be forwarded to Parliament on its meeting. We have so lately and fully explained the circumstances that caused this ill feeling that it is unnecessary to recapitulate. Suffice it to say that a deep seated bitterness exists thatnothing but complete reconstruction of boundaries and alteration of administration can assuage. Turning to Westland we find exactly the same opinion prevailing. There are none scarcely but bold the County Council collectively and individually in anything but high esteem, and the population would too gladly welcome a change of any kind in the hope that it might be for the better, and could hardly be for the worse. We are exceedingly sorry that more active steps on the Coast's behalf have not been taken up to the present time, and that the hands of the West Coast members have not been strengthened by memorials or petitions setting forth tho causes of discontent, and suggesting some remedies, whether by forming a new Province, by soliciting the General Government to take over the administration of all the gold fields on the Coast, or by any other means relieving it of the twin incubi, the Westland County Council and the Nelson Provincial Government. It is not altogether too late

now, if we had public men of spirit, for there are yet more than six weeks to spare. Unfortunately, however, those who should take leading parts in public affairs, thoae who are most deeply interested in good governmentstand aloof when a crisis comes, and allow things to drift as they may, thereby throwing political power into hands that should never wield it. A fttifonn League on a small scale, whose objects should be purely local, that is to say, confined to the West Coast, might achieve wonders. Along the whole line of coast unanimity could be secured if some able men in whom the public had confidence came forward, and all that is wanted to start the movement is an effort on the part of a few energetic men. The time is slipping away fast, and unless something is done without delay the next parliamentary session will prove to us as fruitless as those that have past, and the reign of misrule that has for so many years prevailed in Westland North and South will at least be continued for another year and more.