The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, THURSDAY, 9th NOVEMBER,, 1885.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 322, 9 November 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, THURSDAY, 9th NOVEMBER,, 1885.

Separation is still the bone of contention between rival parties in the Colony. Notwithstanding the positive assurance of Mr Cardwell that the Home Government would not give its sanction to the scheme, it is because of his separation proclivities that Mr F. Whitaker has been elected to the superintendency of Auckland, without opposition —ail other points of policy being waived on this account. It is because of Mr Weld’s opposition to separation that the Auckland party rejoices at his defeat; although it would seem that Mr Stafford’s opposition to the scheme is not less than his. They calculate, however, upon the favorable view in which other (probable) members of the new Ministry may regard their favorite idea, and consequently are ready to support the Stafford Ministry, at least for a time. Separation, however, seems to be the bug-bear that stands in the way of Mr Stafford’s success in the formation of a Ministry. It is well known that it was expected that Mr Ceosbie Ward would fill a prominent position in the new Ministry, but he has declined upon the plea of urgent private business, which plea he would have withdrawn, so it is said, if separation had formed a part of Mr Stafford’s Ministerial programme. Undoubtedly Mr Stafford has found the task of forming a Ministry one of much greater difficulty than he anticipated—beiug

forced to hold the offices of Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, and PostmasterGeneral himself; and that he has been forced to confer the office of Attorney-Gene-ral upon Mr Prendergast, the person who drafted the Press Gagging Bill late Government, which caused so great excitement a short time ago. It would seem that politicians in general are very shy of identifying themselves with Mr Staeford until after the forthcoming election shall have made known the public voice in the matter of his policy. Retrenchment is the one point —and as it appears the only one—in which his policy differs from that of the late Ministry. We are not disposed to consider this as one of small importance by any means, but we did look for some amendment on the Weld policy in other matters, and even with regard to this if the safety of the Colony de mands extra expenditure, we must submit to it, and to further taxation. The policy of retrenchment in fact depends entirely on the way in which it is carried out, as to whether it be good or evil. The Colonist informs us that already he has applied the pruning knife to the rank tree of official salary-consumers. This, if true, is at all events one step in the right direction, and augurs well for the future. We are likewise told that he saved the credit of the Colony by the timely transmission of .£200,000 to England for the purpose of meeting certain colonial engagements falling due in December next; and which it seems that the late Ministry had not suffered to trouble them. Our principal objection to the policy of Mr Stafford is founded on the fact of his continuing the false and foolish, let-alone policy of the late Native Minister, which we have before exposed as calculated to prolong and render chronic our present troubles with the natives. If ever a vigorous policy was required in this direction it is certainly now.