DISSOLUTION,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2372, 21 June 1892, Page 2

DISSOLUTION,

The Conservatives are at the present time sounding warning notes that a dissolution of Parliament may be expected during the present session. Sir John Hall was the first to suggest this idea, and since then it has been pretty freely circulated. The fact that the Hon. W. P. Reeves came to Christchurch recently and delivered a couple of addresses to the Liberal Association has been accepted by the Press as indications of coining events. The Hon. John McKenzie’s speech to his constituents last week also furnishes the Otago Daily Times with proof positive that the Government contemplate dissolving Parliament immediately. Mr McKenzie said £ ‘ I may not have another opportunity of addressing you before next election,” and this is taken to mean that the election is at hand. The grounds on which the dissolution will take place is stated to be the Legislative Council appointments. It is alleged that the Governor will not appoint the number of Legislative Councillors the Government want, and that consequently a dissolution must follow. The Government, they say, will rush one of their objectionable Pills into the Upper House at once, and if rejected there, as it is sure to be, they will demand a dissolution. We do not know what the intentions of the Government are, but we may say that we cannot accept all this without a grain of salt. Sir John Hall said all Governments desired to go to the country when in the height of their popularity, which to us appears to be an admission that the Government is at present popular. That is undoubtedly so, but we do not believe they have reached anything like the height of their popularity yet. The success of their taxation scheme is still problematical so far as the general public is concerned, and consequently though the people may like it they cannot look upon it with that confidence which its success as a means of producing revenue would inspire. The Government may feel certain that the new taxation will yield sufficient revenue, but that is not enough ; they must give as we might say, ocular demonstration of it, and that they cannot do until it has been collected. In 1893 they would be in a position to do this, the success or non-success of their taxation policy would then have been proved by actual results, and no room would then have been left for doubts. If successful the Government would then reach the height of their popularity, and they would be irrestible at the election, which would come about by effluxion of time. The public do not like forced elections, and no Government has ever gained by going to the country. On the contrary, no political appeal to the country has been upheld. If the Government cannot get proper representation in the Upper House, and their measures are ruthlessly slaughtered, it will doubtless be difficult for them to put up with it, but in our opinion it would be better for them to do so for twelve months longer than disturb existing conditions now. Under these circumstances we do not believe that there is a word of truth in the reports about the probabilities of a dissolution, and we hope that nothing of the kind wijl qccqr until the proper time comes round next year.

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS, The British elections will take place immediately, and we are greatly afraid the Tories will win. To tell the truth the present Tory Government have done weU fqr England ; they reduced taxation, lessened thepatjqnal burden, and attended to many domestic matters well, while their foreign policy has on the whole been peaceful. The settlement of a large number of laborers on allotments of lapel and their local Government measures are undoubtedly benevolent and good. They also promise other great reforms, many of them well calculated to inspire confidence, and their party is solid and unwavering. On the other hand the Liberals are tqrn up into factions; they are a house divided against itself, and worse than all tfieir great plpef Ips reached aq age which unfits him fP r much responsibility.. Ip Ireland the Tories have behaved disgraceful. Their complicity in the Pigqt cqur spiracy was the most disgraceful episode in modern politics, while their general policy was indecent and imstatesmanlike. Jhey .found Ireland rendered peaceable by Mr Gladstone's promise of Home Rule, but instead of treating her peaceably they did all in their power to provoke her to violence. Ireland put up with it all, knowing that violence was exactly what her enemies desired, and behaved splendidly, until the recent split in her National camp. There everything was spoiled, and now Imi’ chappps of Home Rule appear to us as remote as ever. The noise in the North is not worth noticing. They say they will refuse to elect members to an Irish Parliament if constituted. What bosh ! Supposing half refused taking j>art in the elections what would be the result? Simply the other half would elect tljeir members and the thing would be settled. More than half of the North is Catholic, so the Protestants would only disfranchise themselves by abstaining from taking part in elections. They would not do it. There is nothing in that, but there is a great deal in the split in the Hash Nationalist camp. If the two factions begin fighting each I other the result will be that Tories *

will get into Parliament between them. In England also the quarrel in Ireland will have a far-reaching effect, and will alienate sympathy from Mr Gladstone. Then there is Mr Gladstone’s quarrel with the Trades Unionists, and Scotch Home Rulers, and their determination to split up the votes by running candidates of their own. The prospects of the Liberals, therefore, appear to us very gloomy, but let us hope that it is always the darkest the hour before day, and that as the campaign developes means may be found for consolidating and uniting the party.