The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4856, 2 August 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1884.

A cleably defined policy not having been advanced by any of the supposedly contending parties for power in the colony, it may well be asked what have the personal feelings, sentiments,-or views of the loaders or members of the various parties to do with the prosperity or good government of the colony ? We read throughout the colonial Press that Major Atkinson and Sir Julius Yogel will not agree on one point; that Sir George Grey and the present Premier are at variance as regards some other matter —not of much moment — that there is no chance of an amalgamation between two parties, owing to the leader on one side having said disagreeable things of another chief of a party; that particles of one portion of the House are not likely to come into sympathetic accord with fragments of another, and so on. This all seems rery irrational. We could understand the case were there some matter of policy involved —were some serious question from a public point of view interfere ing with the smoothness which should belong to beneficial legislation; but when we see miserable paltry pretexts made use of to attempt to hide selfish aims; when we behold the gossamer-like foundations of the stands made by each of the con* tending parties, we feel inclined to cry aloud to those who have all things in their hands—on behalf of the people—Miserere, while we pity the want of intelligence displayed by those really interested in not seeing through the men using them. What is the personal or private dignity of a Premier in comparison to the colony's welfare ? In what scale should Sir Julius Vogel's ambition or prospects of profit be placed as against the colonial weal ? What place should Sir George Grey's collossal imagination occupy when arrayed against New Zealand's prosperity ? In short, why should the personal differences, whims, fads, or peculiarities of these or any other men, act as a bar to the march of progress which this colony, in common with its neighbors, should be pursuing P All these questions may evolve abstruse food for argument, yet the fact remains that while party wranglings are prolonged, the colony is suffering acutely, and the people should with one voice protest, through their representatives, against a continuance of this farcical, yet seriously detrimental behavior on the part of ambitious and greedy politicians. For several years the country's legislative time and money have been wasted owing to this wrangling, and the same thing is threatened over again. So far as we can see, there is but one panacea for the dreadful ill, and that is an amalgamation of the most powerful elements, which would, we think, have the effect of allowing useful legislation to be thoughtfully and carefully carried out, ! and causing party quarrels when arising, to be instantly checked. ' It mast be apparent to a mind of even the 'meanest capacity that'a .strong Ministry formed could easily, while it carried out its functions honestly, prevent obstruction on the part of hungry office-seekers, having evil effects; and, by a judicious exercise of its power—which could not avoid recognition—pass such measures as would be required, and generally legislate for the benefit of the colony. Such an organisation as we indicated a few' days ' ago, containing the names we mentioned, would, we are convinced, have such an effect on our present mixed-up parties in Parliament.