THE POLITICAL POSITION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 271, 10 April 1873, Page 6

THE POLITICAL POSITION.

"Snyder," in the " Weekly Herald," discourses as follows : — I have been asked to state our political position for the benefit of country readers, who are too much engrossed just now in digging up potatoes, and laying down turnips, to allow time to make enquiries for themselves. The " position " so far as I understand it is this : Ihe Colonial Treasurer is here, the Defence Minister is there, the Postmaster General is somewhere else. Mr. Waterhouse being out of office is nowhere, The old Governor is gone, the new Governor has not come. Sir George Arney, the Chief Justice, fills the hole. Every one is drawing his salary and doing everything to retain office. The people don't care about the ministry, and the ministry don't care about the people. There will have to be more loans, if capitalists will lend ; +<here will be more taxes if people can pay them. No railways are likely to be completed for years. Brogden gets a number of contracts, which he sublets to other contractors, who do the work for less money r Brogden pocketing the difference. The sub-contractors under-let their work to others, who will do it for still less money. One <{ Gazette " announces Parliament to meet in April, the following " Gaaette " mentions a day early W M»y« Another "Gazette" an.*

nounces a certain day which is several days later. New imposts and burdens are to be imposed, but these things are nothing, as the people wil lbe astounded when the next ministerial speech is placed in the new G-overnor's hand to read to learn how very prosperous we all are, and how thankful we ought to be ; and that there never were such good times, and that taking every man, woman and child in the country, we are less taxed and £20 a head better than any other people in the world ; and that we eat more, and drink more, and dress better. We shall learn of the herculean labors minister have undergone during the recess, and how people will stand a deal more taxation and wink at it ; and how the land fund is to go into the general revenue, and how Eoad Boards will be told to be independent and not look to tne G-o-vernment for subsidies, and how it is recommended that there shall be a Minister of Road Metal and Excavations, and another of Watercourses and of Agriculture, and a Chief Secretary of Fisheries and a Minister of Mangold Wurzels, all being quite necessary to the administration of ,fhe Government of the colony. In the meantime the Colonial Treasurer is ascertaining with much labor where the best vintages of Port Wine are obtainable, and is instituting enquiries throughout the colony whether truffles are known to exist. He is also engaged in inventing a new sauce piquante, and has purchased at an immense cost a new recipe for tripe stewed in claret. The Postmaster is in Victoria learning the usages of polite society. The heads of departments in the Civil Service, during the absence of miners, are taking holiday turn about and charging their travelling expenses to the country. Everything is being conducted under the strictest economy, and, to use a favorite expression with the present Commission of Annuities, " with due regard to the efficient working of the service."