New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JULY 29.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4790, 29 July 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JULY 29.

It is not the intention of the Opposition, so we hear, to bring down their separation proposals until after Mr. Whitaker’s land resolutions shall have been disposed of. This means a farther delay before the real questions which have to be settled during the present session can be attended to. Of course, the object of this procrastination is obvious. The Opposition hope by procrastination to gain strength ; and it must be confessed that they are not idle in endeavoring to obtain the advantage which they consider should accrue to them from delay. Small caucus meetings are continuous, at which efforts are made to reconcile the most divergent ideas and interests on any common ground that may defeat the Government. The resources of backbiting are also freely resorted to, and every possible story to the disadvantage of Ministers that can be possibly raked up or invented, is circulated, in the hope of weaning any wavering supporters of the Cabinet from their allegiance. In some respects the Government have acted not unwisely in affording the Opposition every possible facility for working out their schemes. It will show plainly on which side right lies; but at the same time, as we have had occasion previously to point out, it is a mode of procedure which must shortly be brought to an end. Of course, the last delay with regard to Mr. Whitaker’s resolutions is almost immaterial. The debate on them could never have been brought to an end last night, and an adjournment until Tuesday must have been taken. As a matter of fact, then, the delay is practically only one of a day, and, owing to the illness of Sir Julius Vogel, was necessary, though Major Atkinson, on behalf of the Government, very fairly offered to go on with the debate if the House should so desire. But after Tuesday it will be really high time for the House to demand that there shall bo no further delay, and that should the Opposition decide upon delaying their separation proposals until after the settlement of the land fund resolutions of Mr. Whitaker, they must shoot these or whatever 1 other bolts they have been forging as soon as possible, and so let it be settled who are to direct the destinies of Now Zealand, and who are to carry through the measures rendered necessary by abolition.