THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 240, 8 October 1872, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

To the Editor oa? the Nelson Evenihg Mail . Sm, —The result of the two "want of confidence motions" may be S2t down as 5 9 on one side and 6on the other. It is evident that any of the dozen venal gentlemen in the House--_and one dozen is surely a charitable figure to set them at —may-overturn any Government. Mr.«Yogel's majority, when Major Atkinson arrives, will be exactly one. There are in the Assembly at least a dozen gentlemen "sitting on the rail," who might be brought down on either side of. the fence by the weight of one single halfpenny adroitly slipt into either breeches pocket. The present state of New Zealand politics reminds one strangely of those outrigger wherries, intqi which a man could only enter in safety with bis hair parted in tbe middle. Under these circumstances ' the Colony would appear to have a right to be interrogated —"Under which King, Bezonian, speak or die." No principle is involved. Mr. Stafford ;has,;unfortunateJy, committed himself to Mr. Vogel's principles, and Mr. Yogel never professed to have any principles at all except "doubleor quits." Mr.. Stafford's tendency is certainly to hedge; Mr. Vogel's to double. Either : game may carry us through, but either game is far more likely, to ruin us. Still, as we are em-, barked in .a gambling speculation, it is better either to make up our 'minds to " hedge "' or to " double the stakes." All that we can possibly , protest against, is the combination. If we "hedge," don't let us " double."' If we "double,"* don't let us " hedge." The unfortunate Marquis of Hastings tried this combination and we know the result. [ '- '-: With a possible majority of one to be attained by-cither : side at so reasonable a price, I cannot'' 1 but think the plain course is to allow the country.. to .decide by means, of a dissolution; 'tt;;is!.said; that __r.'Staff6r^-ma'de dissolution a cohdition of taking office. We can only hope he did.H'The country, any; how is ina'bad':-way ; • but this see-r saw is an unnecessary aggravation. ■ >;'' •■" -;".7"-:- ''•' : I am, &c, - K. ,''•