The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4329, 15 November 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1882.

Continuing our review of the Hon. Mr Eolleston's speech from last issue it may be aaid that gentleman's assertion relative to the Government business was exceedingly inaccurate. Towards the middle of the session Ministers began unfolding their measures little by little, so that it was not until within a month of the close that members knew what the Government of the day proposed as being most suitable for the good of the country. We have shown that the Opposition saw-it would be useless to attempt to oust the Ministry on their past administration, and therefore when the policy was before the House they set to work to see if Government could be defeated on that, notwithstanding the late period of the session. A trial of strength came, and although Ministers won the division was close enough to show they had not a large majority. Mr Rolleston charges the Opposition with admitting the Government measures to be good in principle, yet steadily opposing them, and hinted pretty broadly that they were actuated solely with a desire to gain office, and intrigued to obtain possession of the public purse, proceeding to deliver himself of a homily on the subject. The Minister of Lands conveniently forgets that his Government was saved from defeat by bribery ; they bought four votes by a promise to insert a proviso in the Bill providing for borrowing one million sterling for the railway through the King country, to the effect that the line must be approved by Parliament before" the money wa9 borrowed. Through this cowardly desertion of their colors the measures issue from the printer's hands like a peacock deprived of his' beauteous tail. It can only be compared to a kingdomless king, or a soulless body; the form is there but the

power is absent. Government supporters of course will contend that the action of Ministers was judicious, in fact as far as the North Island was concerned it was unquestionably the better course to retain them in office. From tbis view we dissent entirely. If the Opposition had succeeded they would hare been so weak that Sir George Grey and the Auckland section could have dictated their own terms, and no doubt if these had not been acceded to they would have gone into opposition again and enabled the Whitaker party to return to office with their position assured for the session. Sir George Grey did not seem at all anxious to displace the Government, j nor were his relations with the titular leader of the Opposition of the most cor» dial character; our assumpion therefore is much more reasonable than that of those who feel called upon to defend-Ministers. For Mr Kolleston to twit the opposition with intriguing for office, was for the pot to call the kettle black, because it j is well known that the affinity of i Mr Eolleston and. Major Atkinson j for the Government benches is as that iof the limpet for the rock. We are informed by our Parliamentary correspondent, also by a dispassionate common sense member, who went to the House prepossessed in Mr Holies^ ton's favor, that the Minister of Lands is ever ready to sacrifice himself for his country —on the Govern meat benches. What Mr Kolleston says Ministers did do, but which we have shown they did not, is what ought to have been done, namely, to circulate the Government policy early in the session. If Ministers be manly, if their policy ex* press their opinion, if they have the courage of their opinions, if they be not greedy for office, but willing to hand the government of the colony to others if their proposals are not approved, why not circulate their chief measures, including schedules, especially those bills which contain the salient features of their policy, two months prior to the session ? The country would then have an opportunity of expressing its feeling through public meetings or the Press for the guidance of members. And the representatives would Lave had time to digest the proposals, so that during the first week or fortnight the Opposition, if they thought advisable, would give battle, which over, business Would be proceeded with briskly. Parliament would be less likely to degenerate into a talking shop or debating class; on the contrary, members would be anxious to get through the work and go home. The business would be more evenly distributed, and there would bo less purposeless discussion. There would be fewer complaints of hasty legislation; the manner in which the estimates and important measures were rushed through last session was disgraceful. If Ministers furnisb the main questions of the session in good time for debate these will be dis cussed,. dealt with much more-s&tisfact-orily than hitherto, and members will be able to leave in reasonable time, the shepherd prince for his sheep-shearing, the farmer for his farm, the merchant for his business, and the student for his books. If the country insisted on tbis course Ministers would be subjected to less temptation., It is a humiliating statement but true, that it is regarded as a master-stroke of policy for Ministers to keep back their most important measures until the House becomes weary, that being enervated, it shall pass them. They thus stand a better chance of retaining office. Besides, if Ministers have a distasteful, objectionable, or shady bill, possibly to give effect to some underhand bargain for support made during the session, it is brought down within a few days of the prorogation, when members are impatient to say good-bye to Wellington. That a man becomes a Cabinet minister, or member of the House is no guarantee that he is either more honest or moral than his neighbors. Frequently it is the successful tricksters, the brazen, and the unscrupulous that attain to these positions, rather than those broad-minded well cultured, deeply intellectual, kind* hearted, modest natured men who are the salt of the earth. At best human nature is so frail that the fewer temptations it is subjected to the better, and therefore we contend that for the country to be placed in possession of the Government policy some weeks before the assembling of Parliament, would tend to improved legislators, more efficient legislation, and shorter sessions.