The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5791, 21 October 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

On October 9, 1877, Mr. Larnach was sent for to form a now Ministry ; on the 16th Sir G. Grey announced the names of the new Ministry; on the 23rd Major Atkinson gave notice of his want of confidence motion, which was moved on the 26th. The amendment then moved by Mr. Reynolds was to the effect that “ as “ the Ministry have not yet declared “ their policy, the House declines in the “ meantime to entertain the question of “confidence or no-confidence.” The names of the present Ministry were first announced by Mr. Hall on October 8 ; Mr. Macandrew at once gave informal notice of a want of confidence motion, and tabled it formally on the 10th. The division in 1877 was actually taken on the 6th of November, and the Grey Ministry, on a catch division, were retained in office by the casting vote of the then Speaker, who avowedly gave his vote in order to allow the House a little more time to make up its mind. It appears, therefore, that in 1877 the Grey Ministry retained office on the plea that an interval of seventeen days was insufficient to enable them to bring forward their full policy. Now that the position is reversed, that party contend that a day and a half is sufficient time for their successors in office to mature a policy. Mr. Hall only asked for a week to place the measures and the policy of his Government fairly before the House and the country. This was refused him. All business has since been obstructed by the Opposition, who have endeavored to compel the Government to abandon their undoubted right to a fair trial byrefusing supplies and by declining to listen to argument or reason. The demand for a fair trial which was made and granted in 1877 prolonged the existence ofjthe Grey Ministry, although it was used after seventeen days of grace had been allowed them; but* they now refuse to accede to a demand for a far shorter term of trial when claimed by their successors with a far greater show of reason. The so-called Liberals have accorded scant measure of liberality towards the new Ministry, and we are glad to hear that they are likely to meet "■Hi a fitting reward. The Hall Ministry < -'id. and rightly demand, that they si...’.H on their merits. Until their moujures have received a fair hearing, have been fairly brought before the House and the country, and have been either accepted or rejected by the House, they will surely not resign. In a day or two they will be able to say to the Opposition

“ These are our measures, those are the “ reforms which tho country is clamor- “ ing for ; are you or are you not pre- “ pared to negative them in tho hone of “ displacing the Ministry ?” In the event of the Opposition deciding to continue their obstructive tactics, with a clear and well defined policy in taeir hands, and one that is admittedly far more liberal than, and vastly superior to, the abortive class legislation attempted by tho Grey Ministry—with such a policy to place before the country, the Hall Ministry would bo absolutely certain of a favorable verdict if they wore forced into making an appeal to the electors. We regard the tactics of the Opposition as an amusing little game at “bluff.” Tho colonial bounce of Mr. Sheehan enables him to put a bold face on, and to offer to lay a heavy wager on a wretched bad hand. However, the Ministry hold one card which cannot be boat, and though they would he very loth to play it, in the interests of fair play and justice they may be reluctantly compelled to do so. We publish in another column the correspondence which passed between tho Premier and the leader of tho Opposition respecting the last no-oonfidonce motion. It will bo seen that the Government only asked for “a reasonable time “ to place its policy before the country,” and that this request was not acceded to.