The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 469, 22 October 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879.

The Opposition Press has fallen into a strange inconsistency regarding the Financial Statement of Major Atkinson. It first broke out into a prolonged howl over the ruined credit of the colony. The Major’s Statement would fall like a thunder-bolt on the London Money Market, and the prospects of the £5,000,000 loan would be ruined. Who, it was demanded, would lend to a colony that had a deficit of £912,000 on the year’s revenue ? All through this frantic wail over our departed glory, it was assumed that the huge deficit referred to really existed, or at least, that the Major had said it existed. And yet, in some cases, in the very same issue, they explain to their intelligent readers that the deficit only exists on paper, and that the Major only described what would have been the case if the Greyites had continued in power, and if Parliament had adopted no measures to prevent the estimated deficit from becoming a real one. This is quite true, and we, of course, admire the profound penetration that discovered the meaning of the Major’s plain English ; for although it was only at second sight, and after the howl was over, that the discovery was made, we see in it the promise of better things, and begin to hope that the Opposition Press may in time rise to the average level of New Zealand journalism. But if this is really what the Colonial Treasurer said, we ask with the classic Artemus, “ Why these weeps ?” If the gallant Major had only told us what might have happened had he not rendered it impossible, where is the thunder bolt that is to fall upon the London Exchange, and why is the man who tells us what might be, but must not be, accused of writing “ Ichabod” on the credit of the colony ? The position of the Government is the reverse of satisfactory. The colony is, no doubt, being well served by the investigation that is taking place in all the Government Departments, but beyond this little of any value has been done, or can bo done. The Opposition, owing to the unconscionable conduct of certain hon members, rules the House, and exercises a sort of terrorism over the Government. The other day the Treasurer wanted to suspend the Standing Orders and pass £200,000 of deficiency hlllS. ailU, Hb UIUUCJ ... on the business of the country, he ventured to hope that the Opposition would not seize the opportunity of thwarting the Government. He was answered with scornful laughter. The hon member for Dnnstan —Mr Pyke—is one of the weather-cocks who have put into the hands of the Opposition the power of bullying the Government, and he seems to glory in his shame. He explained, one day last week, that he had put the present Ministry in power for his own ends. He was the last to leave the floor of the House when the division took place ; he saw that he held the balance in his hand, he could defeat Grey by a majority of two, or ho could make a tie, when the Speaker would have given the casting vote to Grey; the great arbiter determined to throw Sir George out. Finding that there was no fat office to bo got under Hall, he became a hot Re-constructionist, and had the affroutry to observe, when referring to the matter, that li the Government thought that they had used him to get into office, but now they found that he had used them.” It is said that this patriot will be rewarded with the portfolio of Mines in the Macandrew Ministry should it take office. He will then bo the greatest absorber of public money in New Zealand, excepting the Governor. We believe that between his County Chairmanship, and his honorarium, he at the present time receives about £I,OOO a-yoar. Should the salary of a Minister —£1,250 —1.e added to this, Mr Pyke will be the most flourishing patriot in Australasia. But to return to Parliament, the chief business seems to be asking questions. Colonel Trimble is celebrated for the number and the length of the questions he asks. AMr Joshua Jones, residing somewhere beyond New Plymouth, is a great eye-sore to the gallant Colonel. The gentleman has received Government money for some services, real or supposed, and has also obtained leave to negotiate with the natives for a lease of 30,000 acres of land, and the member for Grey and Bell is determined to get to the bottom of the matter. There has also been a great deal of squabbling and waste of time over the Election Petitions. There is on each side of the House an utter want of trust in the honor of the other side. As the Committee that should consider these petitions contained a majority of Government men, and the members petitioned against were in Opposition, Mr Reader Wood said “ Out they would go, law or no law, justice or no justice, unless the Committee were amended. ,r There is no denying that the present situation amounts to a dead-lock, and that the Ministry is waiting for something to turn up.