The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1885. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1380, 18 August 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1885. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

This principal political question is, Will the present Government be able to hold out to the end of ti.is session ? To this we reply that no one knows. Their political life depends on an accident. There are three parties in the [louse at present : the Ministerialists, the Atkinsonians, and the young Now Zealanders. Of these the Ministerialists are probably the strongest, and the Young New Zealanders the weakest, but not one of them is strong enough to carry anything objectionable to the others. Under these circumstances it would bo useless to eject the Ministry, for the House could never agree as to who should replace them, If the Atkinsonians and the Young New Zealanders could agree amongst themselves on any well defined lines, and a Ministry acceptable to them con'd be formed, the Stout-Yogel combination could bo ousted at once. It is, however, unlikely that these two parties will coalesce—and even if they did they would not hold together long—and consequently the probabilities are that the present Ministry will be able to retain their seats until next session. The political life of the present occupants of the Ministerial Benches depends on whether the other parlies can agree amongst themselre , or not. They have been defeated on many points of importance already ; their measures have been altered beyond recognition ; they are too weak to govern—but if they were to resign parties would once more be reduced to chaos, and we should have the scene? which disgraced the beginning of last session enacted over again. There can be no doubt but that Sir Julius Vogel is the cause of this disturbed condition of parties. When the late Government commenced to look the condition of the colony honestly in the face, and decided on a policy of thrift

ami economy, Sir Julius Vogel appeared on the scene, and promised that if given the reins of government the colony would progress by “ leaps and bounds.” “ It was ruined by the Property Tax” he said, and ho promised to abolish it at once. What the people wanted was confidence, and this confidence would be inspired by abolishing the Property Tax. The well-known ability, the high reputation, the bold, dashing audacity of the great Sir Julius Vogel dazzled the easily-gulled portion of the people. They believed he was sincere, and that the hopes ho held out to thorn would bo realised. lime has now proved that all his promises were delusive, and disappointment and dissatisfaction are the result. Bir Julius Vogel has managed the situation very badly, he has not been successful in anything, and bis day of usefulness is consequently passed by. A vote of no-confidence is now hanging ■ver his head, but what the result will l )e 's doubtful. It goes without saying that .. large majority are in favor of turning outq ie Ministry, but the question is, Will tl e y do so ? They have no confidence in tie Ministry it is true, but will they have nhro confidence in their successors 1 is t>o question that puzzles them. The trouble is not in turning them out, but in putting others in their place. A large ;ection of the House will not have Majir Atkinson under any condition whatsoever ; if Mr Rolleston is included ii the Ministry all Canterbury will rebel not because they think him unfit bin because he is opposed to the West Coast Railway. Mr Ormond has a few followers, but he is austere, cold-blooded, and unsympathetic,'and possesses note of the attributes which would attach taen to him. He has peculiar views about a Land and Income Tax and Local Government, of which the majority of of the House disapprove ; ho is only a mediocre speaker, and, in short, lacks the main attributes of a leader. Who is to lead, then, if the vole of no confidence is carried ? There is not one in the House who can lead if Major Atkinson cannot; and, unlers the Opposition has come to some understanding to follow him, either the no-confidence motion will fall through or a chaotic state of parties will be once more experienced, It is said that, if defeated, the Ministers will appeal to the country. We do not think bo ; they allowed the opportunity for that to pass by ; they got sufficient provocation for taking that course in the beginning of the session, but they did not avail themselves of it, and it is too lute for them to do it now, If they had gone to the country with the policy they brought down in the beginning, they would have had something of a tangible character to lay before the people, but that policy has since been torn to shreds, and it is too late for them now to appeal to the country.