HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1074, 21 July 1871, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1871.

Why is the meeting of the General Assembly to be delayed until some two or three months of a new financial year have passed % and how are the necessary expenses of the Government to be met during the tine for which no appriations are made '? These are questions that have become of some import ance, and it is somewhat singular that things aLe permitted to move on so quietly as they seem to do. We remember that during the time the Stafford Ministry was in office, and the Duke of Edinburgh was expected at Wellington, the Ministry of the day were soundly rated for a brief delay in calling together the Assembly, although it was evident that had it been called together at that time the public business must have sufiered from the holiday keepings of the occasion. If it be alleged that the absence of Mr Vogel is the reason for the delay—and we know pf no other--we reply that there is something unsound in a Government * ; . ■•■■•■ p. <■'■ ■ ■ ■

which cannot pi'oceed to business because one of its members happens to be absent from his post. Surely the go vernment of the country cannot be altogether in the hands of Mr Vogel, or so much so that it is impossible to pro ceed satisfactorily without him; yet some of our contemporaries tell us that nothing beyond business of a merely formal nature will be done in his absence, though Parliament may be opened a few days in anticipation of his airival. But there are many possible contingencies which will occur to our readers that may prevent his attendance at the expected time, and, in ihe event of any of these, is the State machine to stand still, or possibly go altogether to wreck?