The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1880

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 August 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1880

The session, the Government have decided, must be brought to a close at the end of this month. It not what sacrifice may be entailed, thi3 is the nlti>iuiftnii. So far the work of legislation has proceeded slowly, and unless lion, members pay greater respect to the wishes of the Government and their own comfort than they do to the necessites of the Colony, it is to be feared that the present session will be celebrated for its abortiveness. The consideration of the reports of the several Commissions has yet to come on, and immaculate though those Commissions may have been, we venture to express an opinion that they will not be allowed to pr«ss without comment. Even the Government has shunted the recommendations of the creations which they so much belauded. Then there is the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill, " during the consideration of which the whole fiscal policy of the Government will be canvassed; and we do not wonder that Ministers <jur.il before the prospect, and occasionally out of the fulness of their bitterness, lugubriously deliver themselves of expressions which "portend their inward discomfort. Members are sharpening their weapons for a combat over this question, and, as the repugnance of the Colony against the policy of the Government—stoppage of public expenditure, subsidies, and, at the same time, increased and burdensome taxation—is fast gaining ground, there is likely to be a fierce struggle. The native Irmd'policy. too, has yet to be determined. The Hon. Mr. Bryce has shown a desire to arrest monopoly, but there is a strong suspicion in the House th.it beneath tne multiplicity of Native Bills exists some deep-stated plot favorable to that principle. Tiit; Land Sales Bill, which provides for th:: disposal of native lands through Waste Land Boards is opposed by native speculators and the Opposition. It is believed that ic will virtually lock up the lands, and that, next session, the fact will be pointed to as a good cause for a reversal of policy favorable to speculators. Sir George Grey has proposed an alternative, clause Droviding that native lands shall be vested in boards and native committees. after the fashion of Mr. Rees' East Coast Settlement Bill, and Sir Wra. Fox has proposed another that companies shall be permitted to acquire lands subject to laws relating to Crown lauds. But it is considered that the first system would prove inoperative, on account of the apathy of the natives when associated as recommended, and the second is likely to be condemned as a modification of the land-sharking system, the only difference being that the lands would be filtered through the hands of incorporated companies instead of those of land rings. Altogether, the position of aiiairs i 3 most unsatisfactory, and both sides of the House feel it to be so. Expediency only keeps the Government — in power, we were nearly saying; it comes so natural to write thus of Governments — but it would be more correct to say, in a very uncomfortable position of subserviency to a dissatisfied Parliament. It is not difficult to foretell what will be the upshot of the political situation —the Government will remain in power yet another session to fill up their cup of incapacity, and maladministration, and injustice, and there will then be some chance of enjoying something like representative Government for a season.