Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 264, 29 July 1881, Page 2

Marlborough Times. FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1881.

The Battle is now over, and, as was confidently anticipated By its supporters, the Hall Min istry has successfully routed (lie enemy. Though the Ministerial majority was not a levy large one, if was, under the peculiar circumstances, amply sufficient to prove that the Ministry has the confidence of the House as well as that of the country. There is no doubt, as was plainly stated, that some members, while disapproving of the proposed financial and local government schemes of the Ministry felt bound to vote for Government upon the issue raised By Mr Ormond, for the reason that it was a false one, and the Ministry had seiwed the country too well to allow them to record their votes against it. In carrying out the various reforms which have improved tno prospects and increased the .stability of the Colony since the downfall of tin: Grey Ministry it laid risked its popularity to a very great extent, for there is probably nothing more calculated to render any Ministry obnoxious in the quarters affected than an honest endeavor to remove the burdens imposed By an extravagant predecessor, which has used the public purse to purchase popularity. The ITall Ministry has indeed effected wonders, as was conclusively proved by the figures contained in th<‘ Financial Statement, and they have done this, knowing that, except in the minds of those who have the real good of the Colony at heart, they were losing ground, as everyone affected by the reductions which have, taken place, would have greatly preferred to experience the lavish expenditure of the Grey Ministry. But the policy of the Grey faction. had it not been checked before too late, would have plunged the Colony into the gulf of ruin. As it was if came very near the brink, and

every credit is due to the able administration of the Hall Ministry which succeeded in extricating it from its hazardous position. It was felt by those who voted with the majority that with th< :o facts patent to their view they could not conscientiously vote against the Ministry, though they disagreed with its proposals on certain matters, and ithad voluntarily risked its existence in endearoring to provide a better and more satisfactory system of finance and local govornment than at present exists in the Colony. Besides, as has already been pointed out, there was no possibility of forming another Ministry having the confidence of the

country. If the motion had been carried it simply meant a resumption of power by the Grey faction which has already worked devastation enough to satisfy the Colony for the period of the natural lives of its adherents, and members were not inclined to let the labors of the Hall Ministry become nullified by allowing the management of affairs to fall into the hands of the Grey party. On the other hand there were some members of the Opposition who felt bound to vote with their party on Mr Ormond’s motion, but afterwards signified their intention of supporting the Bill, which will doubtless be subjected to such alteration in Committee as will render it acceptable to a majority. It is, however, very clear from the tone of the debate on the No-Conli-denco motion, that the Ministerial proposals in regard to local govern-

meat anti finance do not, as they stand, accord with the views of a largo majority of members. In our opinion the proposals certainly ought to have been submitted to the. country in. the first instance; and the Ministry has endeavored to do too much. It was not to bo expected that any scheme involving such a variety of mixed interests would meet with the approval of the House, however good it might be in itself, and it is more a question for the country to deliberate than for an expiring Parliament to decide. Therefore wo would have preferred that the Ministry, having emerged from the contest victorious, should have left the proposals on this head as a question to be decided by the suffrages of the country at .the next election, and have contented themselves with passing the Kedistri-

bution of Seats Bill and the Representation measure, and giving effect to those before the next general election. As we have already mentioned however, the measure will doubtless be satisfactorily modified in Committee, and so be rendered more generally acceptable. But for Mr Ormond’s insane desire to assume power this course would have been adopted in the first instance and valuable time saved. The result of the issue raised by him has, however, unmistakeably proved the stability of the Hall Ministry, and we cannot conclude without heartily congratulating the country upon the stand which a majority of its representatives have taken in practically declaring that nothing shall induce them willingly to reinstate the Grev party into power.