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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5708, 16 July 1879, Page 2

The great Liberal programme has been issued, and if all that is promised were in the least likely to bo performed a session of unusual length might fairly be predicted. The Goustitutional party which has been organised, however, is not at all likely to attack the Government on the policy which has been proclaimed. The Ministry have so completely forfeited all public confidence that the carrying out of the simplest possible policy which could be devised, would probably not be entrusted to their. tender mercies. The art of good government does not consist in tabling long lists of reforms, many of which are never expected to be brought forward. The paramount influence of the 1! great “Proconsul” is plainly displayed in the speech before us. His pec measures are enshrined within the leaves of the document, which includes among others a Bill for the abolition of plural voting in elections to local governing bodies, triennial Parliaments, manhood suf-

frage, with a residential qualification, and representation by population. The electoral reform on the basis proposed might have been passed last year by the Government if it had chosen, but it decided not to effect it. A Bill to introduce triennial Parliaments came before the House, but the Government declined to take the matter up, and it fell through for want of official support. A brazen effrontery was required to again face the House with the same old measures put forward in a new dress, and with a lot of other new measures tacked on to them to make the programme somewhat more attractive. Even if the Government were strong enough to force the consideration of their measures upon the House, they would probably not succeed in carrying more than one or two of all the proposals on the paper. It is positively refreshing to reflect that the House and the country will be spared the wearisome task of hearing all the old stock arguments repeated over again once more, with the same lamentable lack of result as last year.

Although the measures proposed are numerous, the very framers of the speech know perfectly well that even if they could be brought forward by a strong Ministry the whole of them could never by any possibility be dealt with during one session. With the very weakest Ministry in power which has ever sat on the benches it would have been simply absurd to suppose that even half the measures mentioned could be pushed through. This fact seems to have presented itself to Ministers after they had mixed the ingredients of the political pie, and they therefore tacked on the following extraordinary clause - “It would be manifestly impos- “ sible for the Government to present “ during this session measures which “ would effect in their entirety all the “ objects which have been indicated.” A vivid recollection of their failure to produce a Bill for the redistribution of seats or a Native Lands Bill, which were promised last session, would also prompt the colleagues of Mr. Sheehan to provide a loop-hole of escape during the present session. “Promising Georoe” is the last soubriquet applied to the Premier, and it seems more than ever applicable after yesterday’s manifesto.

It has been said that finance is the back-bone of Ministries, and that only so long as the Treasury is kept in a flourishing condition, can a Ministry be said to be strong. Judged by this standard, the weakness of the present Ministry stands exposed. An excess of revenue is announced under nearly all heads, but this only amounts to £190,000 altogether. There is, however, a very serious falling off in the land revenue; and in the Governor’s Speech all information as to the exact amount of deficiency is carefully withheld. The whole truth and nothing but the truth would under the circumstances prove very embarrassing, and things are consequently made to appear as pleasant as possible. Notice of motion for leave to introduce an Imprest Supply Bill was given by the Premier, and this was a most significant feature in yesterday’s proceedings. The five million loan is a bold bid for popularity, but the lavish extravagance of the Ministry, and the thoroughly rotten administration, has undermined their stability and destroyed all confidence in their management of the affairs of the State. The elaborate programme is just the sort of thing which was expected last session, but the then Ministry had not the courage of their opinions, and only a very mild edition of it was served up, and even then the salient points were absolutely rejected by the House. A bundle of fresh promises from a faithless Ministry will never infuse fresh confidence into the hearts of those who have been already deceived time after time until they believe nothing.