“’UMBLE PIE.”
“ The strong united Government, having “ well understood principles and a defi- “ nite aim," has come to grief. A dilemma of that kind which M. Gambetta and his friends presented not long since to the Marechal President of the French Republic —on so -soumottre on sc dcmellrc (“submit or go”)—was presented to Sir George Grey by Mr. Walter, Johnston on Friday last. Tho Premier’s strong sense of public. duty and his care ’ for the ■ safety of his colleagues pointed the way,—he submitted; and although ho was as tongue-valiant as Ancient Pistol himself, and swore that not for ‘ 1 Oadwallader and all his goats ” would he touch the. leek, the leek was eaten on . Monday night, after such a cudgelling from Mr. Johnston as his Excellency’s responsible advisors will feel the smart of for “all time.” Tho last condition of Ministers is worse than their first; they seized office and kept it last year by Parliamentary dodging,., in the face of a hostile majority; and now, having been beaten on the vote upon which they challenged the House, and upon 'which they pledged themselves’ to stand or fall, they are content to accept defeat and cling to their places. This is a now. phase of Parliamentary government which will serve as a study for , tho Australasian Colonies; arid wo look forward for some amusement in the commentaries which it will evoke. Last year there was a quarrel with the Governor about a dissolution; we hear nothingof adiaaolutiounow;—discretion is tho better part of valor. Tho Governor might now be willing to yield if ho were asked; but neither Mr. Ballancb nor Mr. Fisher, nor Sir George Grey himself, cares to discuss their Beer Bill and their broken pledges and tho “excited bosh ” of tho stump with the people at the’ hustings, and with tho practical test of the ballot boxes before them. Honorable gentleman are wise in that respect. The Electoral Bill, the Land Tax Bill, and the Customs Tariff Bill are now before the Legislative Council. It would, if wo may ’judge from the suggestions made by the Ministers’ newspapers, be very agreeable to tho Government if the Council would throw out these Bills. But, of its own motion, the Council will probably not- do anything of the kind. Tho Electoral Bill is receiving consideration; regarded as what tho Colonial Secretary properly described it, a . consolidation of tho electoral laws, and as containing “ some of tho principles of manhood suffrage”— it will probably pass, minus only Mr. Sheehan’s innocent little clause for swamping tho European electors by Maori votes. Sir George Grey’s 70,000 adult males who have been robbed of their rights as freemen are shown to have no more real existence than Falstaffs men in buckram. ; The sawdust has been completely shaken out of that slump proporty.” The Bill is regarded, as being quite harmless, and indeed, in view of the
travelling rhapsodies of the Premier, it looks 1 very much of a sham. The large proprietors, as we announced long ago, were in the confidence of the Government, and were “ quite satisfied*’ with the Land Tax . Bill. Mr. Hunter, the member for Wellington City, has demonstrated very happily that the operation of; the Customs Tariff Bill would bo eminently favorable to the squatter and the capitalist. There can therefore bo no reasons,affecting property —which is popularly supposed to be represented exclusively in the Legislative Council, —which might prove fatal to those Bills. We presume, however, that if the Government desired to withdraw them all, there would bo no objection on the part of the Council. As wo ventured to suggest, this would certainly be the wisest course. The Treasurer has foolishly made a deficit, which he cannot cover by any jugglery with figures. With honest administration, —avoiding Tapanui jobs, and excesses in expenditure for native purposes,—the revenue would be sufficient for all present needs without increased taxation. Withdrawing these Bills would permit a return to the status quo , and give time fbr a careful consideration of the whole fiscal question, not,-as in these measures, from the chandler’s point of view, but from that of the statesman. A sound financial policy is more likely to be evolved studiously in the Cabinet during the recess, than to be improvised on the stump.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 2
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712“’UMBLE PIE.” New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 2
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