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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5428, 20 August 1878, Page 2

We publish elsewhere a leading article, copied from the “ New Zealand Sun” of the 15th instant, on the subject of a disagreement in the Cabinet over the Licensing Bill. If the statement made by our contemporary as to the character of the difference of opinion existing amongst Ministers on this point of public policy, and as to the proceedings of “ Mr. Sheehan and his friends,” in consequence or in connection therewith, be true, the information can have had one source only, and the article must, therefore, be regarded as an official communication. We ourselves know nothing about the Licensing Act, except that a promise was made many months ago that it would be immediately printed and circulated in order that an expression of the “ popular will” might be had in regard to it, by way of guidance for the representatives of the people in dealing with a social question of great importance which touches so nearly the hearths and homes of many thousands in this colony, and which has a particular interest for the smiling matrons and the little children upon whom will fall the duty of building up “a nation such as “ has never been seen,” upon the foundation of love and loyalty which has “ at last” been laid by our great Constitutional architect. The promise of publication has been renewed in regard to this dishonored Bill up even to this date ; but now we are officially informed, in the usual roundabout way, that the Bill has been consigned, with manhood suffrage and the free breakfast table, to the Limbo of things waiting to be born anew. The excuse for the delay in the production of this measure has been the obstruction placed in the way of Ministers by the Government Printer, who, curiously enough, never will produce any measure, however important or necessary for the advancement of the human race, or for the maintenance of the good faith of the Government, until he has got some “copy.” Now we learn, for the first time, that it is not Mr. Didsbuey but Mr. Stout who has been the cause of the broken promises. Our contemporary, the “Sun,” is advised that a Licensing Bill had been drafted during the recess, and notice of its introduction given a few days after the opening of the Assembly by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Sheehan. Physiologically, Mr. Sheehan’s constitution being, perhaps, unequal to an effort so sublime, the “conception” of the measure of Local Option had been left, the “ Sun ” tells us, to the AttorneyGeneral. The period of gestation over, Mrs. Gamp was so shocked by the appearance of the little stranger that she felt irresistibly “dispoged to put her lips to “ the bottle on the chimleypiece,” and to unbosom herself to Mrs. Haems, for the information of the trade ; this she did in a fashion far from complimentary to the Attorney-General. Mr. Stout being apparently the one man in the Ministry who has principles, founded on reason and strong convictions, and who is not afraid to avow them sturdily, and to work them out to their logical consequences, will not be very much disturbed by the revelation of the inner life of the Cabinet which has just been made. Whatever view maybe taken as to the policy of the existing licensing system, or as to the virtues of local option, there can be but one sentiment regarding the disloyalty which sacrifices a colleague in order to escape the possible loss of votes involved in the unpopularity of a measure for the production and character of which the mere presence of Mr. Stout in the Cabinet was accepted as a public guarantee.