Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1872. THE PROTEST AGAINST THE RAILWAY SCHEME.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1469, 31 October 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1872. THE PROTEST AGAINST THE RAILWAY SCHEME.

The past session of the New Zealand Legislature lias at least afforded an instance of the utility of the Upper Chamber*, and, in consequence, an argument in favor of its existence. The acknowledged purpose of the Legislative Council is that it may restrain hasty or reckless legislation—that, in fact, it may act as a check on the possible too rapid advance of the more democratic assembly in the representative branch. It is not often, we admit, that any such check is found necessary, but such cases may and i\o occur at times; as, far instance, w]ien a Ministry may be in power which would not scruple to sacrifice the public good to the furtherance of their own pet schemes of politics. We lately took pecasion to express a hope that the recent advent to a short period of power of the moderate party would at least have the effect of inducing the stronger party to adopt a modicum of prudence in the carrying out of their policy. It was 110 more than the Colony had a right to expect. Mr Stafford and Mr Gillies exposed the •weal? points of rhe administration ,of their predecessor-, and laid down the line which it was necessary to. adopt for the public good. Il whs vain, however, to hope that anything could turn the Vogel party frpm the recklessness of their course, or that any exposure or Argument of their opponents could induce them to adopt one of more pru-

deuce or economy. The check, as we have &aid, came from the Legislative Council, wbich vefynetl to pass their munition 1 * Kail ways

Bill, and this refusal at one time threatened to be of such consequence as either to delay the prorogation of Parliament for a time, or—what would' have been more to the point—forced an appeal to the country. It so happens, however, that the influence of the Le gislative Council is but small, and that it la} quile within the power of the Ministry of the day to over-rule it, and force it into compliance. This was, in fact, the case on this occasion, and the Bill in question was carried in the face of the better sense of the Council, and, for the time, the Ministry were victorious,

4,n important telegram, received to-day, however, puts a fresh aspect on the matter. It tells us that the Legislative Council are by no means content to be thus easily defeated. Eleven of their number have changed the venue from the Colony to the home country, and we are mistaken if the Vogel party would not have been in a better case if they had submitted to amend their measure—reducing it to something like the ability of the Colony to afford and so have avoided this, for them, humiliating exposure. We believe that there will not—outside those directly interested in the scheme—be one reasonable man who will refuse his assent to the justice of the case drawn up by the members protesting, or who wiil not admit the force of (he reasons they give. They are, to our mind at least, quite conclusive, and we believe will be the same to. that of our readers. For the reasons themselves we refer to our telegraphic column.