The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 188, 1 August 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1876.

Upon the authority of telegrams received from Wellington we have so frequently unintentionally misled our readers by asserting that the debate on the Ministerial policy was to commence " this evening" that when now stating that Mr Whitaker's resolutions are to be brought down to-night we must add the proviso— if Sir Julius is better, or, if some other member of the Ministry is not taken ill, or, if the Government are willing that the debate shall be commenced. To the attitude hitherto assumed by Ministers on this occasion it would scarcely be unfair to apply the epithet "cowardly.'' The course they have pursued since Mr Whitaker's aud Mr Wakefield's resolutions were tabled, now a fortnight ago, has been obstructive to a degree. They wanted time to consider them — as though they had not been perfectly well aware from the very first that the question of the appropriation of the land fund must of necessity crop up during the preseat session ; then they thought it would be better to take some of the other business first ; and then Sir Juliua was too unwell to be in his place in the House, the latter being to our mind the most paltry of excuses, fur if Mr Whitaker had made his speech on Eriday evening ifc could easily have been arranged that a proof of the Hansard report should be in the Premier's hands on Monday morning, thus allowing him the whole of thab day and the greater part of Tuesday to devote to its consideration, while to the colony generally it would have been preferable that the telegraphic summary of the opening speech of the debate should appear on Saturday, as an opportunity "would thus have been afforded for its careful perusal before the discussion upon it ensued. The country is eager to hear what its representatives have to [say on this great question, and is weary of the persistent procrastination that up to the present, time has prevented its introduction into the House. The Evening Post of Saturday expressed what we believe to be the general feeling on this matter in the following remarks: — "It is really high time that the continual delays which are taking place before the important questions now before Parliament are dealt with, should be put an end to. For the postponement of the debate on Mr Wmtaker's resolutions the Governmtnt are ia the ma n responsible, because the request font in the first instance came from the Ministerial benches, though Mr Whitaker afterwards gave his assent. There was something almost pitiable in the appeal made by Major Atkiußon to the House, that the discussion on the resolution should not be cpmmeaced in the absence of the Premier, because the Government would thereby be placed uader an enormous disadvantage. This indicates how utterly weak and powerless the Ministry are iv the absence of their head' Apparently, without Sir Julius Yogel to lead them, they would be afraid to debate any important question at all. We, of course, are very sorry tuat Sir Julius Yogel should rtquie to absent himself from the House ihiough indisposition, and it was almost cruel in Sir George Grey to ssy » that public busiDess hnviug aiready b<.en postponed on account of a ball it was now to be again postponed in consequence, possibly, of the effects of a ball.' It may be said that no actual time is lost through the postponement of these important public questions, because in the iniautiiue the House pioc.eds with other business, but this U hardly the case. So long as imp irtaut political questions remain uudeciiied, the House does not settle down so fairly to vigorous !»nd B) steaiatic work a« it would do if thet-e were f.tirly disposed of. Hitherto the Opposition have had the strong pie* to urge on behalf of delay, that they wished to have the whole of the"G.)verument policy before them before discussing any particular p^rt of ir. This plea was a good one, but now ie his lost weight bemuse the po icy of ihe Government hjs been completely disclosed. Iv the iuterests of the c iony at large, it would be we:l that the large and ienportaut qutetiouß vow awaiting settlement; should be grappled wiih forthwith. The tountryis getting sick of caucuses, committees, canvassing, and abortive proposals of plans of action. If the Oppasition mean to act at all, there should be no furtiitr delay in taking prompt and decisive proceedings." We fully agree with all that our contemporary has to say, excepting with regard to its assertion that time has been lost by delaying. the debate. A great 4 deal of business has been done which would probably have been " scamped "^to use aa expressive

colonial phrase— Had its succeeded instead.of preceded the great debate, for we know only too well how minor matters are pushed through the Ilouae when once the great question of the session has been decided. The Bilk that have been introduced— many of them of considerable importance— hare received far more attention than it is likely would have been devoted to them had the Ministerial policy been first discussed and they only have stood in the way of the prorogation of Parliament. Sfcil], it i 8 nob desirable that a matter of such vast importance to the country as that involved in Mr Whitaker's resolutions should be so long postponed, aud we hope to-inorr row to be able to inform our readers that the fight has fairly commenced. How long ifc is likely to last it is difficult to say, as the talking power of tha House is greater than it has erer yefe been.