CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 74, 7 September 1865, Page 5

CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

- It is a very bad symptom in the political history of a country when there is no organised opposition, for the party in„power are disposed , to become too saucy, and to desire to carry matters with too high a hand. We talk now of a principle ; we do not insinuate that such hasbeen the conduct of the Weld Ministry, for, as far as we can see, they have delineated for themselves, a policy, and while in all essentials , they have been firm, . in matters of

minor importance th-ay have readily acceded to the wishes of their supporters and opponents. Still, for all that,, .we should like to see a well-knit opposition formed on well-defined principles. It would, at least, have this good effect,, that the waverers would have to take up a position somewhere. The great questions of the day have been the removal. o£ the. troops, and the centralising of the Seat of Governments The latter has become a fact— -the former is fast becoming one. While the removal of the Seat oi Government was in embryo^ the Ministry received the cordial and energetic support of the Wellington section of the House of Representatives f whatevermight be the difference of opinion on other points., on this, at least, there was unity*; and they agreed apparently -to forget their minor differences in the honest endeavour to attain a great object; The Seat of Government has been removed to Wellington, and its removal has; been accompanied by other measures which have materially tended to make it a permanency. The two islands are i about to< be knit together by the submarine telegraph cable, and the continent of America united to New Zealand by the Panama mail contract. Having attained theseobjects, the Wellington members in the Legislature, we* should rather say some of them, are apparently in different- as to whatcomes next; and, perhaps, they would not object to stay the policy of the Weld' Ministry a: this point, and to give support toa movement for the retention of the troopsWe may be doing them an injustice ; but,, when we analyse the votes given on some* l,ate occasions, we cannot but feel that theGovernmenc has received from the representatives of Wellington fconstituencies " only that measure 61 cold support which must have been more distasteful .than ... the'if open opposition which -they " have experienced from others. It is -impossible to= forget that on one memorable occasion,., when the reply to the address was decided on a division, more than one Wellington representative preferred the quiet" seclusion, of home, or the genial festivities of Bel-" lamy, to passing muster before the tellers, of the House. ' Suppose that the member- for Nelsony. r Avhen the Treasurer has disgorged his elaborate financial tables,, and sketched, outthe future requirements of the Colony-^, suppose that he should feel it to be hisduty to step in and- stay the '. insane act which dispenses with British troops,' and should ask the support of. the House), is itunlikely that one or more of the notabilities of Wellington might be found to join, a Ministry of which he would be thef head,, merely, of course, as a matter of duty 2: We fear, judging from the past,, that, such a step is not beyond the range* ofprobability; but, what we have a right to ask and the province has a right to demand, is^ that the' Weld Ministry should, now^ have^ a frank and loyal support in the; cardinalpoints of their policy ; or; they should have been : told from the first that they would •; have it only on one or more pointSi . Weput it to our members to say whether the support hitherto rendered by Wellington, is such as the Ministry had a right to expect. We put it to tbem to say whether if, after having gained one of their objects they allow the displacement of Ministers in order to secure another, they, will not alienate for ever those friends whose: aid they formerly sPught, though it would,, doubtless, have been given, from a recognition, of the justice of the cause _ which' evoked the request. We see the elements of a future Ministry, of no mean ability, which might be formed ' on ." the basis of eatihs: humble pie. Nelson would give her choicbst member, and. Wellington "would emulate her devotion. Auckland would array all her members, for free selection,., and Otago, in her zeal, would J contribute at least two Ministers ; and, should it be impossible to find an AttorneyhGeneraip there lis always the Upper House- -which would welcome a local member, i and the place could be kept hot for a time, -as ithas been before this. A conglomerate ■[ Ministry would be a novelty worthy of an effort; its work would come under' 1 the categpry of patch-work, like its composition, but then the troops would-be retained^ and that at least is something. We- put it to the Wellington members to explain io> : [ their constituents whether it is honorable ' ; to use a Ministry for a purpose, and halving attained that object,. to place it oil one side and chaffer with another ' party to secu'reff another object.-^-' New 'v Zealand- f *tiser.' !, i ■'."•'•'! -sf-'i^v'v-:-;- n -: :^~ "-L - - -u " "'- ! :< " "4>4-" y-^ -i - ■ •