Will Government Resign?

Patea Mail, 14 January 1882, Page 3

Will Government Resign?

Independent observers will have watched with amusement the arguments and the efforts of some politicians to persuade the Government that they were beaten at the elections, and that they will meet Parliament with a hopeless minority at their back and an overwhelming majority in front. It may be conceded at once that constitutional practice requires a Ministry to resign, when it appeals to the country and the electors return an adverse majority. This is said to be the position of the Hall-Atkinson Ministry? But is it? Those of us who care more for the colony than for the fate of a party can view this question fairly on its merits. It is true, to all appearance, that an actual majority have declared against the Ministry in this sense, that unless there is a change of policy, they will vote against Ministers in order to force a change. It is also true, to all appearance, that a majority have not agreed on any Opposition programme. It is certain that a majority have not expressed general confidence in any leader of the Opposition. Granting that an Opposition majority exists on paper, it becomes necessary to ascertain what it will oppose. Firstly, it will not oppose the present Ministry, if the effect of that opposition be to put Grey into power. Secondly, it will not unite under Mr Macandrew. Thirdly, there is no other Opposition leader in the House who could ensure a strong following. Fourthly, the present Ministry are entitled to say that if the Opposition cannot agree on turning them out, it follows that the Opposition do agree on keeping them in. The upshot of the argument is that the Ministry must remain in office to oblige the Opposition, who if called on to form a working Ministry, would be unable to do so. The Ministry are therefore safe against ordinary risks. But being dependent on the tolerance of a majority somewhat adverse, and certainly not friendly, it becomes a necessity of existence that the Ministry shall be wary and conciliatory. They must avoid party issues, and they can do it by the familiar process of “ picking the brains ” of Opposition thinkers. The Ministry will have to adopt an Opposition policy, and call it by some other name; These are the common tricks of politics in all democratic countries. The present Ministry know how to practise them. They are already stealing the main plank of the Opposition platform : they

are leaving the old ground and taking up new by declaring for another loan to complete main railways. That is “ picking the brains ” of your opponent, and by presenting him with his own scheme—a little modified for appearance’ sake—you compel him to give you a vote, and to pay you a sulky compliment. The Major and Mr Hall don’t stick at trifles like that. They have no hard-and-fast principle to contend for, but they can talk high principle to tickle the ears of a few, while practising expediency to suit the interests of the many. This is a cynical view of politics. It is possible to treat politics sentimentally, but only groping simpletons do that.