SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2957, 27 June 1891, Page 4

SYDNEY LETTER.

[IK"M of 11 i'W. Ci'lKl. I'UMitM'. j Syksly, June 2. My laHt letter was written lu a troublous t i ine, Hut scarcely had the decks been cleared after Mr lleid's futile onslaught than a more fot uiidalile attack was made by Mr Dibbs with the wliole strength of the Opposition behind him. lie moved a bald blank motion that the Houbj hail no confidence in the present Government, and only just failed to carry it. In an unusually full House (12(i voted and two paired), the division pruved to be equal--(i.l ou each side. The Government were technally saved from defeat, but only by the castim; vote of the Speaker, which was givi-n in aceonlauce with Parliamentary usage in favour of niaiht tii.iug the ijtin. Such a victory of course was little bitter than a defe..fc, and compelled Hie Government to consider its position. With characteristic contempt for appearancts, the Premier started for Cooma, and as he uoulti say nothing as to the intentions of the Government before thrashing the matter out with his colleagues, and as tlu-y could say nothing without discussing it with him, the country was kept on the tenterhooks of expectation much longer than was necessary. So it comes to pass that if my last letter was written in times that might be described as troubled, this is despatched from the midst of absolute chao.i. The division showed few defections from party lines, Mr Rcid, Mr Want and Mr Haynes, who all profess to be ultra-free traders, showed by their votes that they had more confidence in Air Dibbs than in Sir Henry I'arkcs. On the other hand, Messrs Ewing, Perry and Nicoll—men who believe in Protection, but who decline to be joints in the tail of Messrs Crick, Willis and Schey—voted with the Government. Whatever we may think of Sir Henry's acrobatic performance and "lightning changes," he deserved credit as a party manager. He assumed the reins very shortly after tho birth of the present Parliament in an equally divided House. Notwithstanding tho magnitude of the confusing and conllictiug issues that have since arisen, he has attracted as much support as he has lost. Now that Parliament is nearly ready to expire by eilluxion of time, fully half the membors rally to his call. Could Mr Dibbi perforin a similar feat'.' Between ourselves, my dear leader, Mr Dibhs is the most valuable ally that Sir Harry has in the House. It is the fear of the possible consequences ol entrusting the State coach to such a b'uudering driver that causes many members to support Sir Henry on tho wellknown principle.' " Ol two evils, choose the less." It is an instructive commentary on the laxity of political morality amongst us, and the assumed willingness of the ordinary mamber to forswear himself, that up to the very last the possibility of a section turning round and supporting the Government in which they had just solemnly declared they had no confidence, was seriously canvasscd as a factor of the position. It seems to mo that a Government which accepts such rupport is as culpable as the members who offer it. Yet it was seriously stated that a number of Opposition members have given assurances that if the Government will consent to carry oil there shall be no more votes of want-of-conlidence so far as they are concerned, and that a number ot Opoositiou members would in future support the Government. What hau happened since 'lliursilay'a vote to cause a restoration of the confidence which, with every aggravation <if studied insult and invective, they then formally repudiated What has happened with regard to themselves is that (.hey now begin to realise the inconvenience of facing their constituents. They fear the loss of their self-voted 300 reasons for prolonging the existence of Parliament, They see before them a long bill for election expenses, and (worse than this to many) they have the unwelcome prospect of being called to account for broken pledges, long-forgfttten promises, and betrayals of the public interest quite as gross and glaring as that" which is involved in supporting a Government in which they have no conli dence. If feai of the Opposition caucus impelled them to vole against the Government, fear of their constituents now impels them to support it. Such men are out of place in public positions. They are mere thistle-down, the sport of the inott powerful breeze that happens to be blowing. They cannot even see that their own true interests lie in honesty and singleness of purpose. How then are they likely to h>i able to see where the public interest is involved ? They will lie and lie and lie again to save themselves from trouble or loss, declare they have no confidence in a Government when they think it incompirably superior to the Opposition, ami support a Government in which they have no confidence at all. I don't mean to say that any individual member answers this description without any redeeming features. Nor, as I write, have I any par ticular member in my mind's eye. But this is what all will tend more or less to become if the idea of such political baseness is tolerated or condoned. A mislaken man who is geruine and sincere is more to be respected (though perhaps none the less to be withstood) than the wretched trimmers who are ready to profess any set of principle:] lhat may serve l;.i■ ii' purpose.

Before. this appears in print, tlio iuten'ions of tliy (love niMi iit. will bo made known, lint ii[> to tlie present they have : I.■ i• 11u• 111y kept their secret. Tliey met in Cabinet immediately after ,Sir Henry's I'.luin trom (,'oonia. The Premier then muted Government Uow.sc aud had a luuj; "confab'' with ilia Excellency. Then lie returned to his colleagues and another council was held ; but when it was over all the information vouchsafed to the reporters was that the Government would annuuuee in Parliament this afternoon what course they intended to take. Had they suffered defeat iu the Assembly, I should have expected to see a Gazette proroguing Parliament tacked ou to the door of Parliament House ; but as there has (technically or really) liLen no censure expressed by the representative Chamber, it would appear that that body is fully entitled at the hands of the Government to an explanation of the course they intend to pursue. In the event of a dissolution, it is to he feared that inconvenience will be experienced by the backward state of the electoral rolls, which aro not yet fully completed. The old rolls cannot be used because, it is said, there are not sutlicient copies to go round. However, we have a number of cllieient aud powerful printing en! ablishnicnts, and the last objection ought to be by no means insuperable. It speaks well for the credit of the colony that the Treasurer has been able to obtain an advance of three quarters ot a million inLondou at per cent, which will satisfy present claims until a favourable opportunity for floating the loan presents itself. If the Treasurer can borrow a few larger sums at the same rate hu might earn an honest penny by lending them to the other colonies which have been unable to borrow at the same rate even after offering a very liberal discount. Mr McMillan refuM'd to divulge the source of supply, but in all probability it was the Bank of England; which i"s always anxious to oblige a good customer, and to show moreover that a colony which carefully preserves its credit and is :imen able to good advice can rely on being ■•twisted over a tight place. The announcement leu hid a< 1 i.■ fiiu r1 v favourable ell'eet, I,nth <,u 11,.- pronpr.-H of the Government and on rlie (one of cnmniToial affairs. Tin- . r.nHruied stringency of the money mu!..t ihowewr, affecting tlio price of mining shares, which represents an enormously overgrown nominal value, a large proportion of which must be financed. As charges for accommodation become heavier and bankers l.ecome more and more unwilling to increase their advances, the pressure to sell increases and the nominal value of this ;-reat m.T" nf paper declines according.