The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 10 July 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1880.

Parliament has at last settled down to work A Coalition' Ministry is looked upon as an impossibility at the present jtincture of affairs,, and* the next'best' course for both parties to pursue lias been adopted. A caucus of" both'sides was held, and it was resolved that the question of economy of the public funds is paramount to all others. Retrenchment is uovt the order-of'the day. It is proposed that from L17o,o0o : tb L 200,000 3hai; be annually saved, chiefly from the .Civib Service of the CoLny. The way thai this is to be carried out will not satisfy everybody,.because 10 per cent, "will be consideredHbd'gre t'a deduction ■to iflake from'the scanty wages paid to such men as guards, d.-ivers and stationmasteis of the 'Railwry Department,' while it is too little to • lediiet from the high'salaries- of: recipients of Government patronage. A sliding scale would have been more just and equitable The Government, however, is c> mmitted to a saving policy, and the country is bound to support it, and not let it be a loser by such a sacrifice of policy as the carrying,out of this policy.'will entail*. Overlooking the weak vacillating policy of the Hall Government, and their jroneness to legislate foi one class, let us accept their-expressed'good intentions in the present instance,, and render them every assistance' in* our" power to carry out the necessary reforms. It is some what remarkable that the attitude assumed by the Member for Geraldine during the many- weeks* passed of this session has been a very strange one. In almost every division his nam© has been absent from the listj-ordieiiWs absented himself with 1 " smn'e other coward who, like himself, is subDrlinats to a party, who hold them in : leading'strings.- We are really sorry for our member. * Disappointment Us soured his temper'and made him callous to any kind or gentlemanly feelrtig. This we regret, because man of' and ability, but unfortunately without principle. It is not too late,though,for him to retrieve his steps. If he would but only fcdopt a straightforward policy,, the people W6uldyet J rally> round him," and forget the past!■'• Mr" Wakefield is a politician to the backbone, and woull soon-«xceiin his profession if he wtmld" cast off'the trammels that encumber* Mm-, and throw himself upon the poople- as air«advocate of Liberal measures. The Hall Government has been a curse td bkn-; better forhim had Mr Hall continue*d't6 roost on his high rail in the Upper House. Clearly, Mr Wak--field is not comfortable in his new l regimentals. Let him cast them off at once, and declare himsvlf aS his conscience dictates, which we are sure prompts a different course, and be the j opular advocate of the' people's rights. . .