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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2648, 2 July 1889, Page 2

Tin-: OppoailioH arc making a butter attempt at organisation than was the ease last session, when they were in a rather chaotic condition. At a meeting held last Friday, it was decided, after .some discussion, to oll'er the leadership to Mi- Ballance, and that »cntlein;ai lias accepted tho command, feeling highly fluttered at the distinction thrust upon him. The present Ministry may be called by hard names by some people, but they will have to sink very low before the country couid eonsent to see them replaced by a following Mr Balianee might lead. It will be many years before the colony forgets tho evils inflicted upon it by the atrocious null - administration of the governments of which Mr Ballanee was :i member. The bulk of the people have a lively recollection ot the corruption, immorality and reckless extravagance of the Uivy and Stout Governments. New Zealand must first suffer a decided relapse from her present hopeful convalescence, and wander on the verge of national luiiaey, before she again entrusts her destinies to those erratic politicians. Mr ]'<illance's election has given great otl'ence to Sir V,. flrey who, it seems, has already declared that he will not follow the member for Wanganui. A long standing find between Sir*"!. (!roy and Mr Hallance has existed since lt>7() when Sir George was IV'inicr and Mr Ballance was Colonial Treasurer. The promised solidifies) tion of the Opposition may after all be short lived. besides Sir G. Grey's withdrawal, it is reported that another small section is also greatly dissatisfied with Mr Ballance's election as leader, and Ihey consider there was necessity iw party orguuiuatiou at present.

Wk have received a copy of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, now before the House. We hope to give a digest of tho leading features of the proposed Act in our next issue. There is in this district a strong feeling of indignation at the proposal to constitute the Hamilton Borough Council the Council of Control over the Waikato District Hospital and Charitable Aid. The matter was introduced on Thursday last at a meeting of the Hospital House Committe, and since then telegrams have been forwarded by the chairman to the members for Waipa and Waikato, in forcible terms, requesting them to oppose the transfer. The various contributing local bodies have also been communicated with on the subject. As we said before, we believe our own institution has been included in the schedule under a misconception, for it can be made clear to the Government that the Bill cannot be marie to apply to this district without committing a great wrone.

Orit political news from Wellington shows that a crisis is impending on the Property-tax question, which is made a vital one bv the Government. Our correspondent states that a compromise similar to that suggested by us iu our Saturday's leading article, is being urged on the Premier. It is to be hoped that Sir H. Atkinson will allow the interests of the country at this moment to outweigh his personal feelings with regard to the tax, and save us from an untimely crisis by permitting a temporary under standing being arrived at. Strongly opposed as we are to the Property tax which we have frequently denounced and desire to sea abolished, we are decidedly adverse ta the position of the Ministry being endangered on its account, at the present moment. We prefer to have the question referred to the country at the next general elections and not forced upon them now. A dissolution at this juncture would be most injurious to the welfare of tins colony, and the Government should exert all its power to avoid such a course, not encourage it. If the Premier is filled with an insatiable anxiety to ascertain the feelings of the people on the question, ho can obtain an expression of opinion without the cost ami trouble of a general election. He can appeal to the country in a more simple manner. If he invited tin people to hold public meetings at the principle centres of population in every e'ectorate and to declare by resolution whit their views are in respect of the Property-tax, as well as the form of direct taxation they favour most, he could receive as elective a response iu tint way as by the more expensive ami cumbersome one he is stated to have decided upon taking.