New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4828, 12 September 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

The tactics of the Opposition are exactly worthy of their cause —neither better nor worse. Their whole policy may be comprised in one word—obstruction. It they are powerless to prevent, they are, unfortunately, only too powerful to obstruct, Nothing could be more ' characteristic, nothing more appropriate, than their conduct last night. They profess to have, discovered a difficulty in the path a merely technical difficulty—meaningless and devoid of any evil design. They do not even pretend that any serious innovation on the liberty of the subject or the happiness of the whole human race is involved in the matter. It is simply an oversight caused by the pernicious operation of that most pernicious of all statutes intituled the Disqualification Act. That Act is in itself the outcome, of a superficial species of political virtue peculiar to those who, conscious of their own weaknesses, seek to shelter themselves from temptation by the erection of statutory barriers. In the present case there neither is, nor can be, the remotest suspicion of corruption, nor of undue influences, nor of any possible subversion of public duty to - private interests. No member of the Ministry has benefited by the accidental mistake that has been made, nor is there any likelihood of their doing so hereafter. The whole and sole cause of the terrible dirt-storm raised by Sir George Grey and his appropriate Rees may be stated in few words. Every member of the Executive is entitled to receive an allowance of two pounds per day when he is travelling on Government business, but only so entitled when the House is not in session. As matters at present stand none of the Ministers have received anything, nor could they do so —the House being in session. But they hold offices which entitle them to do so during the recess. After all this tremenduous storm of dust, thunder, and lightning has resolved itself into a tempest in a teapot. No harm has been done ; no. invasion of the spirit of the law has been made; but there happens to be one of those trumpery little tin-pot difficulties which none but lawyers of the highest sect of Pharisees can comprehend, but over which Sir George Grey and his humiliated followers hug themselves and joyously rub their itching palms. But wherefore ? Not because they think their action will conduce to the promotion of the public weal. That is the last thought in their minds, parade it howsoever much they may. Their own importance, their own prominence—these are the objects they keep unflinchingly in their eye ; and so far as they care, the colony may go to the utmost ruin, so long as they can retain their position on the political stage. No care have they for New Zealandnay, none have they for Auckland nor for Otago, nor for any other part or province of this colony. Ever in the foreground looms the images of their own despicable selves, and these are the true objects of their worship. Why, we ask, did they stop the business of the country last night 1 Was there ever a more disgraceful scene,—a more humiliating spectacle,—than was presented when in order to prevent the work of legislation being carried on they stealthily crept out, one by one, from the Legislative Chamber (which their tricks and artifices have almost reduced to the dismal level of a Provincial Council Hall) so as to prevent the Speaker from putting the question of the suspension of the standing orders, necessary to enable the work of the session to be proceeded with? Bulliesin safety, they are very cowards in danger, and like all things of a similar breed, they run away when they dare not fight. “We are a harmless people,” wailed Sir George Grey. Of a verity, yes. A harmless people when real fighting is meant, but a very injurious, and withal a very treacherous people so long as reprisals are not imminent. ’Tis time the supporters of the Government took these things to heart, and we feel quite sure that there is strength enough and talent enough on the Government side to smite the Opposition side into nothingness if the Government supporters but put forth their force. Hitherto they have been very merciful, knowing the weakness of their opponents, but the time has arrived when they must smite and spare not.