Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6510, 7 January 1882, Page 4

In Otago the victory of the Opposition at the general election was striking. In the whole list of twenty-three members there are hardly four who can be depended upon to behave throughout a Parliamentary struggle as thoroughgoing partisans of the Ministry. Elsewhere the Opposition did not fare bo well as in Otago. But there is, nevertheless, in the new Parliament a large party whioh will not, if reason bo shown, have any connection whatever with the Government. The majority of those who have declared themselves are with the Opposition without doubt, as the list of membors now Btands. Those who have declined to deolare themselves aro a strong body. But independence is not a line that pays in politics. The position of an Independent is untenable. Sooner or lator by force of oirouuiatanoos, an Independent finds that he must take one side or the other. In a State governed by parties, there can be but two partios—the Ins and the Outs. All men who seek to form a third party of their own are voted untrustworthy. Of their attitude, tho popular opinion is that the balance they are seeking to establish is not the balance of right, but the balance of profit. The condition of the Independent is never firm. Rapidly soluble, it is ever ready to dissolve, and rush down one side or other of the hill on whioh it stands. Hence the Independent is always tho prey of the most resourceful Parliamentary tactician. There are a few

who keep their independence to the last moment; bat the camber it small. It is not given to everyone to resist blandish men ts and preserve an air of doubting wisdom up to the very moment when the division bell rings. There are some who, by long practice, have attained to perfection in this art, but the necessary genius is aa scarce as any other kind of genius. No need to mention their names, for every tyro knows them by heart. To them, the discriminating public applies the American description. It says that they are given to sitting on rails, and thqn it dismisses them from its mind. This is also the Ministerial method of treating this cleverly doubtful gentry. But the general ruck of Independents are not allowed to slip past in this fashion. The process to which they are subjected is scientific and persistent. Just now their number in New Zealand is very great. We do not know what side of them the Hon John Hall is going to place himself upon. Mr Hall does not favour anybody with any communications upon an interesting subject like that. Neither do we know how the Opposition, if there is an organised combination under that name, intends to approach the large Independent regiment. There is an indication, however, that they intend to proceed through the question of the Otago runs. The Government evidently think so; for the agitation of the matter by the new members of Otago has spurred them I into a sadden iicccbb of energy, and, I we are bound to say, good judgment. To the outside world the question appears merely local; as interesting to Otago alone. We mast not, forget, however that inasmuch as it involves the honour of the Government, it is interesting to the Colony at large. No donbt we shall hear' more of it in a short time.