The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1833.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 246, 17 October 1893, Page 4

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

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1833.

For the causa that lacks assistance For the wrong; that needs rosißtancJ, Fer the future in the distanea, And the good that -we can it.

It is not necessary to look below the surface of things to find out that the successes achieved by the Liberal Government are as gall and wormwood to the Conservative party. The Opposition journals do not occupy an enviable position. In order to propitiate their patrons, they have obstinately opposed the cause of reform, and have endeavoured to thwart the wishes of the great majority of the people in the colony. It is not surprising that, as a result of such tactics, the journals devoted to the interests of the Conservatives have a long series of mortifications to record. When the last general elections were held there was a profound belief, which was shared in by everyone, except a few persons obstinately blind to the signs of the times, that important legislative changes were necessary, especially with regard to the incidence of taxation, the land laws and the industrial interests of the colony. The leaders of the Liberal party pledged themselves to deal with these matters, and as soon as Mr Ballance and his colleagues assumed office they prepared to redeem these pledges. At each step they encountered violent opposition from the Conservative journals. All sorts of wild predictions were indulged in. It " was confidently announced that capital would be withdrawn from the country and that outsiders would look for fresh fields for their investments. When the graduated tax was imposed all sorts of dark hints were thrown out about j people who were going to hasten out of the colony taking their money bags with them. There was not theslightestfoundation for these statements beyond a little ex- ! cited club gossip, and the departing capitalists were as mythical as the celebrated Mrs Harris of famous memory. In fact, the resort to such tactics showed the 'desperate shifts to which the Conservatives were reduced. Then we were told that the reform measures '■■ introduced by,Mr BaDance were

viewed with alarm and apprehension in the other colonies. It was represented that the intelligent section of the Australian press was simply aghast at the revolutionary legislative measures which were being placed on our Statute Book. There was little force in this statement. It is true that a few fossilised journals on the other side of the water commented unfavourably on Mr Ballance's programme just as they are now resisting attempts to introduce beneficial legislation for the masses of the people in their own colonies. How little the sentiments of these journals expressed the sense of the community was shown during Sir George Grey's visit to Australia, when he pressed the question of one-man-one-vote upon the people. The enthusiasm whtch he kindled among immense audiences, gave a powerful influence to the cause of political and social reform. Imitation is the sheerest flattery, and the best answer to those who heap unlimited abuse upon the Liberal legislation in this country is that it is carefully studied by the politicians, and in some instances adopted as a model by the Parliaments of other colonies. Even the bitterest opponents of the present Government cannot deny that substantial progress has been made during the last three years. The wealth of the country has steadily increased, settlement on the land has gone on at an unprecedented rate, and we have been spared anything on a large scale like the industrial conflicts that have raged in more than one of the neighbouring colonies, Nor has the good fortune that has characterised the administration been confined to the early days of its existence. The Colonial Treasurer has been able to show a substantial surplus for last year, the finances have been wisely and economically administered, and the Government have resisted every temptation to return to the former disastrous borrowing policy. The Conservative organs find themselves in a dilemma. They cannot deny that New Zealand is in a sound and healthy condition. We need not suppose that they do not share in the general gratification at this state of things. Their great desire is to diminish the credit due to the Liberals. While Mr Ballance lived the task was felt to be a difficult one. When he was removed from the scene the Conservatives believed their hour had come. They affected to think Mr Seddon lacked the tact and discretion to keep the party together. They considered too that the return of Sir Robert Stout would introduce a disquieting element which would further the intrigues of the Conservatives. During the last session the Opposition journals have spared no effort to set the Government before the country in the worst light. Their tactics with regard to the Electoral Bill furnish a striking instance. As it passed through various stages, every attempt was made to show that Ministers were not sincere. The Conservative press predicted that when the Bill reached the Upper House its fate would be sealed. There was a good deal of lachrymose writing about deep-seated treachery to the women of the colony. Up to the moment when the Act was placed on the Statute Book, there were all kinds of wild rumours that some trickery was intended. When it was impossible to keep up this farce any longer, the Conservatives, in order to deprive Ministers of any advantage, maliciously circulated reports that the measure had been forced upon a reluctant Government. The Opposition organs are ''now uttering a new note. They are anxious for a grievance in view of the approaching elections. They profess to think that the Government have no definite policy for the future. This is mere claptrap. The Premier in his address the other evening mentioned among other things a reform of the Legislative Council, acquisition of native lands and the continued settlement of people in the country districts. The work they have already achieved can be pointed to by Ministers with good effect, and we do not doubt that it will appeal so powerfully to the good sense of the electors that the Liberal party will be returned with an overwhelming majority.