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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2058, 9 August 1875, Page 2

Eisewheke we-publish-an-;article from the Auckland'Evening-Star which not only denios'- that th\j>o!icy of the Opposition is the dismem^rmeat of the Colony, but proceeds to-:gLye;;the:|trominent points ia the programme"o]|jM^Ppposition. As this article was "f^rittchon the spot" and telegraphed fro»:.-W"elUngton f it is probable that the poftttaf enumerated are the cardinal featur£if]bf>vthe" Opposition platform— the policyj^n fadt, vaguely referred toby Sir^Gec^'e^rey^beijQg muciv fnore r liberar thVa^e^over.nmQnt-Aboli-, tion and" Local Government Bills. The first point in this programme is, reduction of expenditure in all departments of the Government. Of course retrenchment is always a favorite cry with the party out of office; but let them once obtain the" reins of power, and promises .of retrenchment are forgotten. Next, the Opposition propose to levy a property tax, especially.with a view to make absentees contribute to the revenue : very good in principle but difficult to carry into practice ; and as the Parliament is at present constituted, we think the Opposition would have a difficult task before them to bring a majority of members to their way of thinking. Item three is intended to make a change in the constitution of the Upper House of Parliament and the Central Government and Legislature before the present representative institutions are surrendered. The fourth point is conditional: if centralism is to take the place of provincialism, enlarged powers are to be given to "large centres of population " that they may " impose, collect and disburse taxation independent of the Government." Fifth, to take steps for the preservation of political life and education in political knowledge. What this latter may mean we are at a loss to imagine. It is more than usually vague for a platform of a powerful Opposition; and U characteristic of their whole policy, which seems to be to have the abolition question postponed at any sacrifice, in the vain hope that with a new Parliament the Provincial party will gain in strength. It is difficult to see in what point the Opposition programme is so immensely liberal. As compared with the tangible and substantial proposals of the Government, there is literally nothing offered.; it is like asking the people to refuse good bread for stones. The change in the incidence of taxation, if carried but, would do very little towards relieving the general burden of taxation ; while the millstone of Provincialism would still be left clinging to the necks of the out districts and impeding their progress. If the Opposition have nothing better to offer than these vague and shadowy promises, the people will decline to listen to their voices : as Mr Rowe expressed it, they will not trust the Provincial party to give them more liberal measures than the General Government —they (the Opposition) are too true to their own interests —namely, the interests of Provincialism.