The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1885. THE STABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1308, 26 February 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1885. THE STABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Mr M. J. S. McKenzie, the Member for Mount Ida, and the Whip of the present Government does not appear to be altogether happy in the position he holds. He is not altogether satisfied with Sir Julius Vogel, because he cares for nothing but commerce, and he ridicules his fo'outh Sea Scheme, which he characterises as a bubble. He could, however, tolerate him. The difference between Sir Julius and himself does not seem to be so great that he would not be able to get on well with the Government but for the land policy ot the Hon. Robert Stout. That appears to be his pet aversion, and he 6eema disposed not to show it the slightest toleration. He favors free trade in land, while Mr Stout is for " tying up and restricting it," and he adds in a melancholy way that Mr Stout " can carry the day with him." " I must," be says, "do Mr Stout the justice to say of him that he means thoroughly well—that he is really as desirous to promote true settlement as any man can be. But there is a fatal lack of practical knowledge about him on this subject that goes far to defeat his intention. The worst of it is that the lack of practical knowledge is accompanied by the belief that he knows more about the Land Question than any other man in the Colony, Let him have < The Book of the Farm' or «The Complete Grazier' for ten minutes or so, and he would be prepared to show any of you how to grow a crop of turnips," He then goes on to hint that Mr Stout is next door to insane on that one subject, and continues to say, " On any other subject you will find him an enlightened politician and remarkably well-informed man, as a Premier ought to be, but try him or. the Land Question and he goes off the track at once. We ail know of the Land Bill Mr Ballance carried through the House last session. Mr Ballance get it from Mr Stout, Mr Stout says he got it from Mr Itolleston, and Mr itolleston got it Heaven knows where ; for aught I know to the contrary, you might trace it to the asylum before you were done." This is about as good a specimen of Colonial assurance and self-assertion as we have come across. It would do honor to a distinguished South Canterbury politician that we could name. Mr McKenzie is a young man who sprang into political existence last election, and after one session in Parliament he has the effrontery to tell his constituents that every one who differs from him is, if not altogether mad. next door to it. What Mr McKenzie condemns is the state-leasing system. He would not have the Government lease land at all; he would have them to sell it out right. Thus he would shut out the poor man from settling on the land, and he would rob the people of this colony of a source of revenue. We get at present from leasing Crown Lands about £200,000 ayear. It these lands had been sold this money would have to be raised in the shape of either a land or property tax. Is it wise then to rob ourselves of this revenue ? Is it not killing the goose that lays the golden egg ? But any one who thinks that lai)d should be leased instead of sold by the State—and the greatest thinkers of the present century think so—this fledging politician from the snows of Mount Ida ranks as a monomaniac. However, his opinion on the subject is not worth much. What we desire to point out is that Mr McKenzie appears to be pretty well tired of the leadership of Mr Stout, and that in all probability the Government will find themselves minus a Whip before long. Not only does he differ from them on the Land Question but his views are at variance with theirs on many other matters—notably Local Government. He says that he believes the Government will have nothing to do with L ical Government ; and I hat there has been more nonsense talked over it than any subject which has cropped up for As the present Government alone are crying out for the change it is they who must be talking the nonsense, and it can hardly be pleasant for them to find so devoted a follower speaking in such a damaging way. All this points to one thing—the probable fall of the StoutVogel Government. Indeed, anything tlte nouid not well- be expected. The party is composed of the most opposite elements that ever yet " mixed" in the chemistry of New Zealand politics. They lack the necessary affinity to form a stable compound. By indirect means chemicals which do not possess affinity for each other, are sometime! united, but they soon sever their connection. By indirect means the preseut Government party was got to unite by that clever political chemist Sir Julius Vogel. He mixed up some carbonate of District Railways, sulphate ot West Coast Railway, cloride of North Island Trunk Line, iodide of a South Sea Trade, nitrate of further borrowing, and with the aid of an unlimited quantity of the mucilage of egotism, self-assur-ance and soft soap, he succeeded in combining the warring elements into a compound that answered his purpose for the time being. Such a compound, however, cannot last long. Even the Ministry themselves do not appear to possess any great affinity for each other; they have scarcely met together Bince Parliament was prorogued, and perhaps it is just as well they have not, for it is very likely they agree best by living apart