The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 4078, 9 August 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY.

Tor the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance. And the gocd that we can do.

This afternoon the question ef the direct steam service between this colony and Great Britain will be under the notice of both branches of our Legislature. In the House of Representative?, Mr Driver (the author of the motion of Tuesday night, to refer the question to a select committee) moves for tho appointment of that body ; while in the Legislative) Council, Dr. Pollen is to move for the appointment of a similar committee from the Council to co-operate with that appointed by the House of ttepresentatires. It will be remembered that this unwonted activity and unanimity of aim on the part of the Upper and Lower Houses arises from the hurried and subplciom contract which Government made a few days ago with the New Zealand Ship, ping Company for the conveyance of Government cargo and immigrants fiom England to New Zealand. That this contract was concluded with indecent haste and moat reprehensible secrecy on the part of Government seems to be pretty generally admitted so much so, indeed, that the bellicose Major, who is so fond of making a "Government question" of every petty move of the Opposition, wonld not stake the Cabinet's existence upon the transaction. The House of X epresentatives, by its vote of Tuesday night, passed a plain vote of censure on Govern* ment, and the Legislative Council, by following the lead of the Lower House, has concurred in that censure. The .New Zealand Shipping Company will probably be ready to exclaim—" A plaguo o' both your Houses "; but the public of the colony, to whom the proper decision of the question means a saving of perhaps £10,000 a year, havo cause to rejoice at the lively interest which the subject has evoked among the members of the Legislature. In this matter of the Government contract, there h doubtless not a little of trade rivalry leading to the warm feeling manifested, but there is more of a jealous regard for thß privileges of Parliament, which ought certainly to have been consulted prior to the Government committing them, selves to either party. Of course, the contract Is not concluded until Parliament sanctions it; but it will be awkward for the Government if that sanction should be withheld, 'Jho committees named in the notices of motion to-day are fairly representative, and should prove competent to give a sound decision, and one not swayed by party considerations.