The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 205, 2 December 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1879.

When the Conservative party managed to get the Hon. J. Hall to resign his seat in the Upper House and take the lead in the Opposition camp, they well knew they had the right sow by the ear for doing wh*t was for their interest ; they knew also that, as a Canterbury man, he carriod some weight; and knowing that some of Sir George Grey's former friends felt sore at the way he had thrown them overboard, they calculated that Mr Hall would be the best man to lead an opposition party to upset the Grey Ministry. In this they were not mistaken, as no better slave to the interests of. the monied classes coirld be found than Mr Hall ; and, although we were prepared to hear that the new Ministry had taken up with all apparent earnestness the Liberal cause, we yet could

not for a. moment believe that they were Liberals, and although the country has so fully expressed an approval of Sir George Grey's policy, as compelled them to take up his measures, we still believe there are asgreat Tories as iver they were. Even the measures that have been passed are tinged with Toryism that it cannot he concealed. The gi cat cry against the Land Tax was chiefly raised liy the largo land owner*, or at their instigation, and by acting upon a lessi formed 3'eom!inryclaas ) they were able to fet some of their friends squeezed into Parliament, which otherwise would never have been until the Auckland Rats took to the water and swam for the opposite shore. The determination' of the Hall Ministry to stick to their scats whs no doubt strengthened by members acting like the Russian officers, with their chicken-hearted soldiers - going behind them with their naked bayonets, giving them a gentle reminder that they must face the foe. This, no doubt, had a good deal to do with the firmness of Mr Hall and hJB colleagues, when .most men would have flung up the sponge and taken to their" heels.

The colony does not know, and the world will never know, the wheels that were working within wheels, to get this machinery put in working order. Onco the Auckland members were brought over all seemed safe. The Liberal party could not but feel disappointed and disgusted, when the old adage became so well proved a fact—" That a man's worst enemies are those of his own hous«\" They were crushed and were unable henceforth to hold their own. For a time all went with the new Ministry as merry as a marriage bell, until the Ways and Means came up for consideratior. For a time the cry about the maladministration of the late Government, and the extraordinary disclosures that tne new Ministry were to make to the world cast a glamour" over the eyes of the onlookers, which kept them from seeing the play of their little game. But this could not last for ever —the mares' nests did not turn out such big prizes as their friends were led to expect, and disappointment began to show itself ; this, in turn, led to disgust on the part of some, and they threatened rebellion. .Another hunt must be made. This time they were more successful. The late Native Minister had been rather profuse with his pocket-money amongst the cabbies and poor John Sheehan came in for his share of abuse. They would have been much better pleased if the lot had fallen upon Sir George Gn y.but this Jonah in the ship saw the storm coming, and took care that they shoulu not be nble'to blame him for the storm. Afier poking their noses into every nook and corner, they could not find anything of this prophesied disclosures, except a few telegrams, and this even could not be brought home to Sir G. Grey. The great cry against Sir George Grey by his bitter enemies met with little response fiorxi the eolo'y, who began to see that all the Hall Ministry wanted was office, and to atave off the reforms which the people were clamorous for from one end of the colony to the other. Often had they taunted Sir George with making promises which never were fulfilled, and such patterns of morality did they promise to become, that the outsiders were puzzled what to think of it, and considered their must be something wro n g, when such men made such statements. By-and-bye, however,this came to an end and some new game must be played. It became quite evident that the Ministry had determined to procrastinate, and only by bringing pressure to bear could they bo got to go into action. The season that promised so much is likely to turn out little, and the new Ministry will soon become as unacceptable to the Liberals as the old one waa to the Conservatives. The Financial Statement had to be made and it must be made as black as possible. When it made its appearance how did it show 1 Nothing to prove the extravagance and waste of the late Ministry, except by the poor Native Minister. A deficiency did exist, but how was it caused 1 Not by any mismanagement of the Grey Government; but purely by a falling off in the land sales. Who could prevent that 7 The Financial Statement disclosed nothing that was not known before. What was the remedy proposed ? Taxation, nothing but taxation, and that in its worst form. In our leading article of Thursday last we stated that this question was rousing the colony from one end to the other. Such is the fact now patent to all. We believe that the Government will have to abandon their Property Tax, and with it their whole policy, and begin a-new, by retrenchment and that at the top of the tree The present Ministry will not care to do' that ; but it must be done. Taxation in the colony cannot go any further. Siu-h taxation as is shadowed forth by the Property Tax is quite impracticable,and would cause more expense to collect than the amount it would bring to the exchequer would warrant.

Then, again, as to the Customs tariff, — many thousands are expected irom a malt tax. Dopp any sane man believe for one moment that malt will be imported into a barley growing country, and pay 2s a bushel duty ] This is a fallacy. Other articles" will turn out to be something similar. Raise the price and it stops consumption. This has been found so over and over again, and will be proved once more by a shortcoming in the amount expected from this source. A Land Tax would have saved all this, and the machinery has been set in motion. No more expense would be required to be incurred for the collection and a much larger sum could be got than from the new Proper iy Tax, but the whole dri.t of the Govern ment in spreading out the tax is to sr.ve the landed proprietors. They are pledged to save the absentees, who have no in< ome save from bind, and consequently will not come in for this tax ; but the hardworking farmers will have to pay u tax upon the sheep, cattle, and even their household furniture. We are inclined to say it serves them right, for putting in men whose past experience ought to ho.ve satisfied them that they were not the friends of the working man, and therefore having- sown to the wind must reap the wLiilwind. The Hall Ministry do not seem to be Al financiers. A good financier would have got out of the difficulty without causing such a revolution in the existing state of things. When things are at their worst, however - , it is said they will soon mend.

The new Liberal party in the Assembly al though the Hall Government may not b, willing to admit it, is in our opinion dei-e tined to work a great revolution in New Zealand politics, and now is the time fo Liberals all over the colony to give it th

right hand of fellowship. For atme it looked as if the Tory fraternity were to wield the sceptre of power for a time unmolested, but thin is not to be. The new parly have in its hands Oie future destiny of the colony, and if the Liberals will be true to their principles they will be able to put out or put in any Ministry they like There is every reason for believing th it this young New Zealand political p'Tty will keep the field. A combination of different elements on the other side had completely broken up the Grey party, and promised to put the colony under the ru ; e of the Upper House, which, with its preponderance ef w & th, could crumple in any individual or small clique who would have the boldness to oppose it. This the independent members of the House saw. and by.a wise exchange of opinions, and a little taking and giviug c n each side, they were able to come to an understanding as to their future course of action Now they have the ball at their feet, and can kick it in any direction they like. These 27 members, if they stand true, even if not increased in numbers by the next time Parliament meets, wiil be able to dictate to the Ministry any terms they like. The present Government think by shelvinA'the He-distribution of Seats Bill for a session which is evidently their policy, they will be able to go back to their old groove, and, having silenced (as they think) the cry of the Liberals, they will be able next session to do as they like ; but the history of the gentlemeu who form the Government is too well known, and their class connection with the leading Conservatives in the Legislative Council is too notorious for the mass of the people to trust them. They, therefore, will have to knuckle down to popular feeling if the new Liberal combination are faithful to themselves nnd to their country. When we look over the work of the session, now about to close, it almost dwindles into nothing on close inspection. What have they dene? No reform in the Upper House, no reform in the law which constitute a Lower House, except a stultified Franchise and Election Bills, no law reform or simplifying of the form-justice no amended County Act, no new public works scheme, or means provided for carrying Mr Macandrew's scheme for settling the country, cr providing employment to the thousands that have been induced to come to our shores. No reduction iu the enormous and steadily increasing expense of education and administration, no native policy. Thanks to a past Government, we are to have? no Nitive war ; iude<;d, there was never any chance of such, except by a inlriguiug arid mischief-making Conservative Opposition, who continually tried to force on a war to complicate mutters. What then we repeit, has the present Government given us simply an impracticable Property T ix, which, if not crushed in the bud, bids fair to ruin the colony. Looking at this state of things, we say again, it ia the dnty of every true Liberal to strengthen the hands of the De Lautour Liberal sociation.