The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 839, 1 November 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Ecpial.and exact justice to all men. Oi wiiatevt-r st.ue or [W.-.u-isiim, ruliginvs o

Here shall tlie PresT ths Peoi«lk'.s rig:.t iiiiiiutain. Unu'.vcd l)v influence and unbribnd by ij:iin

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER I, 1577

At the time wo now sit down to write oil the aspect of the political position we' are at a disadvantage, for all must necessarily be matter of pure speculation, at least so far as thfe. result goes, and the short telegram which we trust may appear m another part of to-days papei, ■arrangements for receiving which up to a late hoar on the nvirning- of publication have been made, will, m all probability, give the fite of the j\tinistry one way or the other. Nevertheless, the division may net 'come' off this night, or, we should ratTier,. sa,y. as io will be read by our ireader- -of -to-day, last night. The Cas m the Assembly meter may not 'give out fur another twenty-four hours, and still keep us all for so much longer on the tenter hooks of

ejqDectation. uot therefore to forecast tar polificanW%cope. 'And truly it, would soem- as; if -'.a single vote would. turn: the balance^ bufc we are inolined to tbiuk it will be on the Government sirle. Bat let this be how it may, it is utterly impossible that the work of the country can be carried dii iv a parliament m which parties are so evenly balanced. In either case, we take it, a dissolution must be the immediate outcome of a clost' division. As to the doctrine puc forward by Mr Ballance, that Sir George Grey's ministry, if beaten, muy refuse to resign, because neither principles nor policy were involved m the issue — anything so preposterous as that cannot for a moment be entertained. Sufficient of both the policy and principles of the Government have been sketched to the House to enable it to form an estimate of their value and expediency. If the vote of either confidence or want of confidence is given on any other ground than this estimate, it cau only be given as a matter of personal feeling-, or for the sake of place ', and though we may all Know how largely both these feelings enter into the composition of a division, and how much the preseut assembly has hardened down into two composite personal parties, yet that such is the case, that a vote of the House must be taken as meaning so much and no more, can never be gravely stated by any member m his place, . much less so by any member of a Government as a reason for retaining office m opposition to such a motion as that of Major Atkinson. And if it were constitutionally possible to outbrave the House m such a way, what would be the result ? Why, simply that the Government would alienate the more temperate of their supporters, and thus turn the tide of power against themselves. Undoubtedly the haste of the present Opposition to bring forward a wanjt of confidence motion h.s won sympathy inside as well as outside the House for Sir George Gi\*y and his party, and just as surely the attempt or 1 the Government to biave constitutional usage and to cling to office, despite a vircully adverse VoteV ' would, strengthen the Opposition, and render it possible for the latier to obstruct /*r fas et nefas the attempt of tne Government to carry on the administration till, for lack of supply, it would be obliged of itself to resign. A dissolution and a short recess, the House voting the necessary amount to meet necessary liabilities till it meets again, is the only alternative that will satisfy the colonists.' It is said Sir George Grey, if defeated, will ask for a dissolution. No argument can, m fairness, be urged why it should not be granted. It will have been theu shown that neither of the ' two parties can carry on the administration — that neither one commands the coufiJeuce of the House, as we believe neither commands the confi- ' dence of the people. The parliament needs re-casting — re-electin" 1 upon certain fundamental questions which underlie the wellbeiug of all future Governments m New Zealand issues which were never put before the electors at the late general ele& fcions, and the inattention to which cuts from under the feet of those who urge it the argument that it is too early m the second session of a parliament to send representatives ag an to their constituencies. The generalisation of the land fund, a recourse once advocated by Sir George grey, but iidw indignantly renounced by him with scorn, and a change m the incidence of taxation underlie thu whole question of Colonial Finance, and n Government which will not undertake to place the Finance of the Colony on a better and clearer basis is unworthy of the name. But the best workmen must have tools and material to work with. If the colony expects them to deal satisfactorily with its finance, it must give them a Parliament prepared to assist them m the undertaking, o, Pharaoh-like, it will demand of them to make bricks without straw. There is no doubt but that the colony must accept one of two alternatives, the generalisation of the land fund or a property tax. The territorial lords of the South must chose between one or the other, and to enable any ministry to place our finance on a healthy basis, we must give them power to force one alternative or the other on the colony. If it were for this reason jilone, a dissolution is an absolute necessity, but abundant evidence has been shown that we have come to a political dedlock from which there is no other avenue of escape. [The telegram refered to has arrived The division has not taken place, but the political embroglio seems more difficult of solution than ever. Clearly there is no alternative than a dissolution.]