The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 670, 5 September 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justico to all men. 01 whatever fttato o>- poisiusion, religious or political « * # # • IIcr« sbtH the Pren tha Pkoplb'b right mjiutHin. Unawed by influence and unbribed by fcain.

TVJUiDAY SKPTEMBER 5 1576

In the absence of the full Ministerial program hjp, which was only to bo brought clown last night, it would be idle to speculate, from the known antecedents and opinions of its lending members, on the course which the new Ministry may take. This much wo ftro informed, however, that tho Counties Bill will begreatly modified, and that a complete reformation of the Native office adroinia tint ion will bo entered upon. The addition of Messrs Hull, Whitaker and Oi'inond to the Cabinet, the first of whom possesses the confidence of the Canterbury members generally means a fusion of paitiea, the burial of extreme party feeling, and the exchange of dilliUnti legislation for practical work. Wo may, at least, feel assured of this, and though Major Atkiuson baid little in ths Lower House, on Friday, Dr Pollen as representing the Government in the Legislature Couucil went a step further, and stated, that Mr Whitaker bad only consented to assist Major Atkinson in forming a Ministry on condition that the now Government were not bound by the acts and prooiiies of its predecessors, further than with respect to those leading features of their policy which bad received the approval of tho Assembly. It is perfectly clear, too, that an opposition of obstruc- ' tiveness will not be tolerated by the .Assembly. The ordinary period of a session hit* been waited already, and, indeed, it does not appear as , though there were room for opposition of this kind, for Mr Whi taker, it bpovds, had consulted all the Auckland members individually and had received assurances of support from nonrly all of them. We are justified therefore in assaming chat tho general outline of the Government policy will be favourable to Anckland. ihe fact indeed that Mr Wiiitaker has taken office is a guarantee of this, and Canterbury, not a little detached f/om the rabid party of opposition by the taunts leveled at her by the Opposition leaden in the late debute on the Waste Lands Ad miuiet ration Bill appears to be hf-gely represented on the Government benohet, having no loss than three Ministers amongst her ipeinbar* — Mrliichard-s-.n, Minister for Public Works; Mr John Hall, without portfolio; and Mr 0 0 Bowen, Mi mater of Justieo and Commissioner of Stam; "i Auckland is represented by two members, Mr Whitnker, Attorney, General, and Dr Pollen, Colonial Secretary. lluwke* Bay by two. Sir Donald McLean, Native Minister, and Mr Oimcnd, Minister of Lund and Immigration. Mnjor AtLinson, Posttnastw-General, Treasurer, and Premier, representing a iur»uak«, nud Mr Gco MoLoan, Minister of Customs, an Otago constituency. The numbu- of pud Mi-

niters in fixed by Act at seven, a-id Mr Geoige McLean an<l Mr John 11. ill therefore hold offico without salary. But for the unforeseen accident to the wires between Auckland and Wellington, which took place after five o'clock yesterday evening, the arrangements we had made would h.ive enabled us to have placed the ministerial policy in full before our readera in our issue of to-d.iy.