The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2311, 3 May 1887, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDA F, MA 7 3, 1887. « According to the judgment of our Wellington correspondent, the farce of 1884 will probably be repeated this session with, in the phraseology ojE the playbill, new scenery and effects. In other words, though there is not the least likelihood of

the Government being able to carry their policy bills, there appears to be no desire on the part of the Opposition to oust them from the Treasury benches. Our correspondent generously admits that the Premier may not be induced to occupy a position so humiliating a second time, and we can only hope he may not. If he wishes to save his reputation he can take but one course. It is true that the injury necessarily inflicted on his bump ot' self-esteem was compensated for by knighthood, but to a man ot Sir Robert's convictions the salve could not have brought complete relief. It is not a little strange that Ministers should attempt anything in the shape of "policy" bills, knowing as they do that the country has over and over again, with more or less emphasis, refused to have them at any price. So far the Government have reposed their claim to public confidence on the purity and efficiency of their administration, and the only explanation which occurs to us at the moment to account for their new departure, is that the country is beginning to lose, or rather has lost faith in their administrative genius, so called.

For, of course, it is admitted on all hands that the .finances of the colony are in a most deplorable state, requiring the exercise of the most pinching economy, or the imposition of fresh burdens of taxation. Retrenchment is very popular with those who are not in danger of being " retrenched," but in a higher decree than increased taxation it inflicts misery upon individuals, and is not, when suddenly put into force, a desirable instrument at all. Wholesale reductions in departmental expenditure mean nothing more or less than that large additional claims will be made on the charitable aid fund, so that what the taxpayer will save in meal he will, not altogether perhaps, lose in malt.

These observations are not intended to show that retrenchment is unwise—not at all—rather are they meant as a protest against the haphazard methods of administration which demand sudden changes of policy. It seems but yesterday that Sir Julius Vogel told us we were prospering by leaps and bounds, and to-day he confesses that he has been unable to make both ends meet.

What, under these circumstances, we want with. " policy " bills we do not know. Possibly Ministers think tliafc in the contemplation of such, fads as land nationalisation and female suffrage, the eyes of members may be kept off the finances, though this involves the conclusion that the Government have very little sense. The fact of the matter is that Sir Eobert Stout is kept in office because there is no one ready to take his place. The Opposition have, indeed, taken a course which is not moral, however expedient it may be in a party sense. They want to give the country the fullest opportunity to " get sick " of the Government, in order that they may kick them out ignominiously. This would be all very well if the little game involved no financial consequences, but as it does the sport is but poor fun.

The members of the Opposition have told us over and. over again that the present Government are playing ducks and drakes with the colony's finances, and the majority of people believe it; but this being so, it is the plain duty of Major Atkinson and those who act with him to leave no stone unturned to secure a change of administration.