A NEW PARTY.

Patea Mail, 28 August 1880, Page 2

A NEW PARTY.

“ Ministers are warned of a conspiracy. A new party is being formed ont of lukewarm supporters of the Hall-Atkinson Government. The bead of this new party, or the person who is aiming to be its bead, is Sir William Fox. He is the coming man who is to rescue tbc colony from bankruptcy. With bim are associated, as tbe Ministry of tbe future, Mr Gisborne, Mr Reader Wood, Mr Wakefield, and some lessor celebrities. Their policy is a simple one. If will stop farther borrowing, will put an end to railway extension, will reduce the enormous costliness of tbe Civil Service, and ivh.it else? The oracle stops there. Here is a programme - which differs in no material particular from the policy of the present Ministry, except in the one item of borrowing. The Ministry are leaning on the support of a few men who will withdraw that support whenever they can betray Ministers into a false position and seize their places. A house divided against itself cannot stand ; and this threatened secession of half-a-dozen powerful and selfish supporters may at any time put the Government in a humiliating position. The Opposition, too, will wake up at this new opportunity. They will “ pull themselves together” for an effort, and if they can only find a leader who is able to lead, there may be a change of sides next session preparatory to the general election. The Opposition is divided in like manner into two sections which agree but ill. This is a time when the colony needs a strong and able Administration to put its affairs on a sounder basis, and to remodel the whole machinery of Government on a scale commensurate with the real needs of the community. The few people of these islands are ovcr-officered to a degree that is absurd and scandalous. We want this changed, and only a strong Ministry can do it. Wo want a policy of common-sense applied to Native affairs. We want an intelligent, prudent, and independent system of public works for developing the colony at a reasonable rate. And until a stronger and more patriotic party can be formed, it is much to be desired that the present Ministry shall be maintained in power. Factious ambition like that of Sir William Fox is not a healthy sign.