The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1888.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 139, 13 June 1888, Page 4

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1888.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, Jaxii the good that we can do.

It is characteristic of the' inefficiency ■of the great . talking-machine at Wellington that, after the dedsive division recorded yesterday, the Opposition in the House should go on obstructing the passage of the Bill 1-hrough Committee. There can be no possible gain to the country from Mr Beetham's amendment, which traverses almost the same ground as was covered by Mr Ormond's rejected resolution. And as it is probable that considerable modifications of the new tariff will be made in Committee, no time should be lost in considering its details. The statement made by the Premier with regard to the attitude of the Government in dealing with suggested amend-

ments to their tariff proposals is satisfactory. It may be readily understood that inquiries relative to duties which it was intended to impose would have to be made with caution to prevent importers from defeating their intended purpose for some time tyr heavy clear-

ances. However, if the Government are willing, as the Premier states, to relax the tariff wherever ib presses unwisely upon the materials of manufacture, a very workable tariff may be achieved. But it is to he hoped that he will not surrender any of the cardinal positions in favour of aid to local industries, which have already been affirmed in principle by yesterday's vote. The deserters from the Ministerial party may now form a good estimate of the feeling among the Opposition on the question of protection, and the logical deduction from their action, if they endeavour to oust the present Cabinet in favour of the members on the Opposition Benches, is, that their hostility is prompted by other feelings than their professed solicitude for free-trade principles.