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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 116, 26 April 1884, Page 2

The meagre report with which the Association has favored us of Major Atkinsons speech at'Dunedin on Thursday night, leaves but scant room for comment, but sufficient may be deduced from it to show that no new feature was introduced to relieve the dull monotony of repetition which characterised his previous orations. The past seemed to engage his special attention and he mainly devoted himself, like his colleague Mr. Bolleston, to showing that the loans had been fairly distributed between the two Islands Tu point of fact the members of the Ministry seem to take up an entirely defensive position, and we hear little beyond explanatory statements and apologies about questions which members of the Opposition have made specialities of, such as the complaint as to whether the North or South Islands have benefitted most by the loans, and which has received the lion’s share. What we want to hear somethingaboutis whether the Government has any set plan or policy to propound whereby we can reasonably hope to thread our way out of the labrinth of present difficulties into a more promising future, and what steps they are likely to take with a view of improving the present depressed state of trade. Itis one thing to give advice, and another thing to practice it ourselves, and we cannot help thinking that the advice which the Major was so prodigal in bestowing upon others would, in self practice, stand him in good stead in endeavoring to remedy some of the present evils. It sounds well to urge the people “ not to take a despondent view of matters, but by hard work, economy, and self control, secure a prosperous future.” All will agree with the speaker that despondency in any case only tends to augment trouble, but to council economy and hard work, where no work is to be obtained, is like a doctor ordering portwine and change of air to the poor wretch who is unable to obtain the barest necessity of life, and who is perishing from want. The position, from a Ministerial point of view, becomes more and more embarrassing and difficult, and evidences are not wanting to show that the Government have succeeded in earning a tolerably wide spread unpopularity by the injudicious exercise of that economy which all in the main agree is so essential to the present slate of affairs, and which the exigency of the times have forced upon the Ministry. While all are at one as regards the necessity which existed for retrenchment in the Civil Service, yet when the remedy was applied, bitter opposition was shown to if, and now the same with respect to the railway tariff question ; and although this step has every indication of causing the discomfiture of the Government, yet one cannot but admire the resolution and pluek displayed in taking this plunging step, so fraught with dangerous results, at a time when popularity and prestige is so requisite for the success of their plans. The entire absence of any clearly defined expression as to future policy tends to show that the Ministry really have none, and that on .the opening of Parliament, should the Opposition not

succeed in passing a “ want of confidence vote,” they will trim their sails to the most favorable breeze and make the best use of their opportunity in endeavouring to counteract the unpopular effect which they have created by their late actions, and to prove as far as possible their claim to public support by navigating the ship of state clear of the numerous shoals with which she is at present surrounded. The Native Ministers speech is looked for with no little amount of interest on all hands, but especially so by this district, and we can only hope that it will at least give some clue as to whether the rumours which have got abroad foreshadowing great changes in this department has any foundation. As Mr. Bryce has the reputation of being outspoken, we are justified in expecting that his speech will be more to the point, and so contrast favourably with that of his predecessors.