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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 104, 9 October 1878, Page 2

Notwithstanding the anticipated importance of the present Session, so far it has been almost barren of result. It is now well on for three months since the Lords aud Commons were called together, and of what cau we boast as having been done ? At its opening a couple of insignificant bills were rushed through all the stages at one sitting — the Native Lands Act Amendment and the Mercantile Law Further Amendment — since when legislation has been absolutely at a standstill. A few more weeks and the third Session of the Sixth Parliament will have been a thing of the past, without the Statute Book being materially increased. Mr Whittakeb's [Representation Bill, which embodied within it many provisions of a wise and equitable nature, was repudiated for tbe Attorney -General's somewhat doubtful rival measure. That still drags along, and even granted that it becomes law, it cannot be viewed as an unmixed blessing, for instead of being a panacea for all electoral ills, not a few of its clauses are a flagrant injustice toward European ratepayers. A storm has been brewing for some time against the Government, and it burst forth on Thursday evening, when the member for Manawatu opposed Mr Ballance's motion for the second reading of the Beer Duty Bill, and moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day six months. The Attorney-General took up a position that it had been agreed on both sides of the House that the financial proposals of the Government as a whole should be discussed on the motion for the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, but tbe Speaker ruled that the objections taken were untenable, and the question having been put to the vote, the Government was defeated by a majority of two. Mr Stout then made an endeavour to account for the defeat by stating that several members of the Opposition had; deliberately Violated their pairs, but lie signally failed m his attempt. On Friday Sir Geoeg-e Grey seized the bull by the horns, faced the situation, and intimated that m defer*, ence to a preponderance of Reeling, the Government had determined to withdraw the tvvo Bills which had been ob- 1 noxious to the majority— the Beer Duty Bill and the Companies Income Tax. This announcement took the House— as no dojubt Ait *miU j^L^n^^P«*7^

much by surprise, and the sentiments uttered by the senior member for Wanganui wili be re-echoed by the public at large. After the firm and repeated asservations by tbe Government that they would stand or fall by their policy, the adoption of such a line of action is not calculated to inspire respect, and leads one to the belief that tho main object of Ministers is to tide over the Session, and stick to place and pay.