N O T E S.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2376, 30 June 1892, Page 2

N O T E S.

It is reported that the Government do not intend to borrow either in London or the colony this year. The result of the new taxation will be that it will leave a large surplus, and this is to be applied to carrying on public works. This is the reason the Government have not brought the penny postage into operation. They intend to apply the money to carrying on public works. We regret that they cannot see their way to reduce the postage, but if they will he able to do without borrowing by its means we believe few will object. If they do without a loan this year they will do what no Government ever did before in this colony. Their policy may he called the Self-reliant Policy. Hitherto the custom has been to rush to the London market for another loan, and if this Government can carry on without that they are worthy of all praise. It is a complete change of policy. Previously a great many domestic services were paid for out of loan, and if now the. Government pays not only for these but also for public works out of taxation they will have performed a great feat. It is said they will have a surplus of £812,000, and that they intend to apply £200,000 of it to public works.

The Wellington correspondents of the Conservative papers still insist on the possibility of a dissolution, and it does not appear at all unlikely that such a thing may occur. The Governor has refused the advice of the Government to make certain appointments to the Upper House ; he was, it is said, ready to appoint eight, but they wanted twelve, and hence the split. Judging by the action the Government are taking, they mean to test the Council as to what it will do with their measures this year. That is their apparent intention, or otherwise they would accept the proposal of the Governor. If the Council treats the measures this year as they did last year, we cannot see how they can carry on any longer. There will only be three courses open to them. They must swallow the leek, and put up with it, which is very unlikely ; or they must resign, in which case Mr Holleston would form a Ministry that would not stand one week. Mr Kolleston would then appeal to the country and there would be a General election. Thorp js another course, and that is they can appeal to the country themselves, and this is probably the one they will take, so the probabilities are that within the next month we shall be in the throes of a General Election. It is our opinion that the Government are making a mistake. They ought to hold on to office iinti} their tax has been collected.

The Government are doing all in their power to expedite business. They have called on their party not to discuss the Address in Reply, but to leave all the talking to the Opposition. This is ft indeed ; it is very hard for ope party pi' ipeif to have to listen to others abusing Ujem, without sayipg a H'Qf’li hut this is the way to push on bpsipesS;

Sir John Hall has been forestalled by the Government, who have inserted a clause in the Electoral 31111 extending the franchise to women. It was lost in the Legislative Council last year by one or two votes, but it is said tliat death and absence has so changed the Council since then that now there is a majority in favor of it. In that case women will be able to vote at the next election.

The new Electoral Hill abolishes plural voting completely, and gives shearers and commercial travellers the right to vote wherever they may be at

the time of the election. Sailors exercised this right last election. This will give us complete manhood suffrage.