The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 240, 6 October 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1873.

The session has closed somewhat gloomily on Mr Vogel. Portfires and music are wauting, and the curtain has dropped suddenly, and yet sullenly, leaving the audience to wonder what will take place behind the scenes T.etween the present time and that of its being raised again. Some really useful measures have undoubtedly been introduced and carried through Parliament, by the Government, but they have retired from the public gaze somewhat ignominiously, and after having quietly submitted to a regular '■ facer " irom the Legislative Council. At the time of the Provincial Loans Bill being; thrown out, there was a great splutter of Ministerial indignation, and all sorts of violent threats were uttered, but they ended in words and nothing more. We have all of us occasionally witnessed a quarrel between two school boys. One brings his fist in contact with the other's face, and with bis nose bleeding and an uncomfortable feeling of thickness about the lip, tbe strikee exclaims to the striker — -You just tio that apain aud see what I'll give you. But tbe striker does not care to repeat the dose, he has administered as much punishment as he considers necessary, and unless further provo'ked is content to allow matters to remain in statu quo. And so tho hoy that had his head punched receives no more blows, but his meek submission to the chastisement doeß not elevate him in the eyeß of hiß companions

Just so with Mr Vogel. He had sef, his heart upon carrying his Provincial Loans Bill, but tho Upper House would oot grant their sanction. Thereupon he threatened a most horrible retribution. Most of the Councillors are men of property, and he assured them that he would raise the money he wanted on the security of a property tax. But ha did'nt. There were other influences at work, aud upon calm consideration he thought it advisable to change his tone — to submit to having his ears boxed without any attempt at retaliation. The reason for tnis mild resignation to defeat U scarcely creditable to the Ministry, if we are to believe the Wellington Independent, which, it must bo remembered, is a thick and thin supporter of the present Government. " Several Government supporters told Ministers that they would never support them again if they brought down the measure they pledged themselves to." It amounts then to ihis: — Mr Vogel considered Provincial borrowing to be essential to the success of his policy, so essential indeed that he was prepared io go to tbe extreme length of proposing a property tax at the tail end ot the session, but upon it, appearing that some of hia supporters did not approve of such a measure and wero prepared to act in opposition to him if he proposed it, he pre(ev<-*...i to sacrifice his policy nnd retain his sea?. This is not, creditable lo a Ministry, nor is it. satisfactory to tha country whose affairs the Ministry undertakes to manage. Had Mr Vofjel insisted upon a propeny tax, he would have found that the country was with him, but he did not like the attitude assumed by his supporters, aud at once gave in as «' urably " as might Uriah Heep have done. One of the objects of the Provincial Loans Bill was to put a stop to that system of log-rolliog wbich, to the danger of the colony, is gradually growing upon the Assembly and becoming a recognised portion of the Pariiamcntaity proceedings, but to log-rolling bns been sacrificed the very measure which, it was hoped, would to some exten!; acfc as a cheek upon it. We have all learned to respect Mr Vogel's ability, but if to ability he bad on this particular occasion ad .7 i firmness, he would have risen in the estimation even of those who doubt the soundness of his policy.