The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 231, 20 September 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1876.

The recent action of the Opposition in putting a atop to all busiuesa in the House, fop which no poaaible reason can be assigned, is being loudly condemned by the press in most parta of ! the colony. What is the state of pub- : lie opinion in Auckland we hare not yet beard, but it is probable that there the proceedings which have for the last few days disgraced the New Zealand Parliament may meet with npproval, for the Aucklanders look upon Sir George Grey and Mr Eees as more than human — they cannot err. Else-i wWe, however, the obstructive policy adopted by the minority is spoken of in no measured terms. We will quote from two of the Wellington papers, the Post and the Argus, in order to show | what public feeling ia at the seat of Government. The Posf, it must be remembered, has for years been a consistent opponent of the Government. The Argus is a supporter of the Ministry. The former says : — "In the present condition of the colony, with, grave financial difficulties impending, the exhibition now being afforded by the conduct of members of the Opposition in the Assembly is alike shameful and discreditable. They are talking against time with the ostensible object of preventing a division being taken on a proposition, which, if carried, would obviate the necessity of Ministers going back to. their constituents for re-elec-tion; but what they really have in view is to interpose obstructions and delays, and to waste time, so that in the end the session may be brought to a close without any of the Government measures having been carried. * * * * Such factious and senseless obstruction on the part of the Opposition cannot be too strongly condemned. There is, after all, no important principle at stake. The alleged disqualification of Ministers is founded upon a mere technical error, unwittingly committed, which might fittingly be condoned by passing an act of indemnity, thus enabling Ministers to retain their seats without the necessity of going before their constituents at all. If the Opposition persevere in their present tactics, it is difficult to say what will be the outcome of the present position of affairs. Assuming that Ministers were to agree to prorogue Parliament, resign, aud then go before their constituents — carrying ou the government of the country in the meantime until their fate at the polling-booths was decided— the cinomaly would be created of the affairs of the colony being for a brief space in the hands of gentlemen who had no seats in Parliament. Of course this would only last for the short period necessary for the writs to issue and the elections to take place, but the precedent created by the adoption of a course so questionable would be a most dangerous one. In the meantime, with the prorogation of Parliament abolition would come into effect, while no institutions of local self-government would be provided to replace the machinery of the provincial system. In every respect this course would be a most objectionable one, and the Government would in no case be justified in adopting it. * * * * Sir James M'Culloch's action in introducing the famous ' Iron hand ' resolution into the Victorian Parliament was strongly condemned by a section of the Press at the time, but it is now generally admitted that the extreme circumstances of the case justified the use of strong, and evening arbitrary, proceedings. We are approaching a similar condition of extremity in New Zealand. Faction has fairly run riot, and a salutary check must be imposed upon its mad vagaries, as enacted by Sir George Grey and his followers. Ministers will certainly be justified in using the strongest possible measures to put an end to the senseless and disgraceful display which day and night is now going on within the walla of Parliament, and the continuance of which is casting lasting discredit alike upon the colony and its representative institutions." The Argus of Priday on the Bame subject writes as follows : — ■ " To-day Paliament entered on its fourth month of session. This was, of course, a very suitable time for such an exhibition as has unhappily taken place. Three months have been wasted in useless talk; not a single useful measure of any importance has been passed. The time of the Legislature has been wasted in factious and personal squabbles, and the real business of the country has been neglected. Still, however, there has not heretofore this session been such a display as that of last night and this morning. Twice before has our Parliament been disgraced by resort to similar tactics— in 1868 and last session — but on each of those occasions there was more justification for the course than in the present instance. * * * * The Opposition seem tp be now fighting for the shadow of a shade, or rather to be offering simply a factious, unreasoning opposition to the business of the country, Thp country w jh aOon aw^ ke to this, and wjll uphold jfche Government, an d the majority who support them, in res'stjqg the tyranny of the miuority, by the adoption of strong measures which in other places have been adopted on even less provocation, and with less justification. Desperate diseases authorise the adoption of strong remedies; and we hope the Government will not much longer refrain from applying these."