The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1885. THE PRESENT MINISTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1355, 20 June 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1885. THE PRESENT MINISTRY.

One tiling that can he said for the present Ministry is that they are going about their business with commendable promptitude. Hitherto it has been the custom to do nothing for several days after the opening of Parliament. These days have been generally devoted to button-holing, whipping, caucus meetings, and other little tricks of statesmanship. But the present Government resolved on driving a coach-and-fonr through those old customs, and on getting on with the business at once. They were to some extent thwarted in this laudable effort to expedite business, however. They were ready to go on with the motion of the Address in Reply the day after the delivery of the Governor’s Speech, but as this was an unusual course the Opposition raised objections to it, and in deference to their wishes (hey adjourned the debate. In doing this they showed a courteous spirit which evidently the Opposition appreciated, for the Address in Reply motion was passed without discussion. If, then, the Opposition delayed the debate on the Address in Reply from Friday till Tuesday, they compensated for it by allowing the motion to be carried without a prolonged discussion. So far as we know, no Parliament that has so far sat in New Zealand has had the Financial Statement laid before it within a week of the opening of Parliament. Hilhorfo three to four weeks, and sometimes more, have been wasted in useless discussion before Governments have exposed their financial proposals. It has frequently occurred that Ministers have withheld them until after they had felt the pulse of the House and borne with a good deal of badgering and abuse. The boldness shown by the present Ministry 7 in bringing down their proposals so soon, is therefore the more commendable and praiseworthy. We do not know to what their political intrepidity is attributable, unless it is that they feel their position so secure that they 7 fear no foe, or that the situation is so desperate that they are trying to carry all before them by dashing surprises. Be this as it may, they have, without doubt, set a good' example so far, and we trust it will be followed in future. Too much lime has hitherto been lost in useless discussions, and if this evil can in any way be lessened good will be done. In other respects the present Government have put forth views of which we cannot help approving. We have hitherto opposed them because they had done nothing worthy of support, and because they had had recourse to a good deal of humbug and nonsense which no one who felt an interest in the colony could accept. Our opposition has never been directed against themselves, but against their actions, and we are now as ready to support any good measures which they may bring forward as we have been to oppose their past conduct. We have never given, and never shall give, blind support to any body, or party—we areentirelyindependent- and consequently if the present Ministry do good we are ready to give them credit for it. If all we hear is true, they are favorable to protecting local industries, and if so they shall have our support. ISir Julius Vogel has expressed some sympathy with the “ Cheap Money” proposal, although notin the direction we have advocated. Realising, however,that “haif-a-loaf in better than no bread,” we shall look forward with much interest to any efforts put forwaid by him in that direction, and, if at all reasonable, he shall have our support. At any rate, they have made*a very good beginning this session. They have gone about their business like masters of the situation, whatever the result may be. There is an old saying to the effect that “ when the moon conies in like a lamb if goes out like a lion,” which means, of course, that a new moon which has a fine beginning betokens a stormy ending. The Parliament of New Zealand has this year commenced its duties very lamb-like—-nothing can equal the serenity of its first few days—but whether it will have the lion-like termination is what future events will disclose.