The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset. ' TOKOMAIRIRO, AUGUST 19, 1881.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 1336, 19 August 1881, Page 2

The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset. ' TOKOMAIRIRO, AUGUST 19, 1881.

. i A more barren Session of Parliament than that which is now almost concluded was, perhaps, never held. Of ta'k there has been abundance, of work not a little, but of practical legislation scarcely a fragment. Even thed liberation upon those necessary measures — without the passage of which all the machinery of the State must be at a | standstill — has been shunted on to the fag-end of the Ses-ion, and the Bills will probably be hurried through with indecent haste. We are not so partial in our views as to attiibute tins state of aftairs wholly to the factious and obstructive action of a disorderly Opposition. The Government has underrated its own resources, distrusted its own power, and hence has been guilty of an amount of timid vacillation which its best fiiends must deplore. We firmly believe that Mr Hall and his colleagues have the confidence of the country, and it has been proved they

can carry a majority in the House ; and it would have been more dignified on their part if th^y had taken a firm stand upon their own m asmes, and presented a bolder front to the disorgani-ed factious who have occupied the Opposition benches. Such a course might have resulted in defeat, bat it would have been a defeat preluding triumph ; for at any time during the Session au appeal to the country would, without doubt, have resulted in their returning to the House with a m>re substantial majority to b<ck them than before. But the caution and timidity on the part of Ministers, which has, to some extent, interfered with the projres of public business, are the very quali ies which peculiarly fit them for the position they occupy. With commercial disaster and financial trouble on every hand, it was absolutely necessuy that the Governmeut of the country should advance prudently, feeling tbe eround before every step. This Mr Hall and his colleagues have done. Wo admit they have been somewhat too hesitating, but they have erred in the right direction ; and if they have been guilty of a vice, it has been a vice growing out of an exce-s of virtue. Some of our contempoi aries prognosticate a keen contest fur every seat at the coming 1 election, but how that contest will be conducted we fail to see. At the last election the cry was "Sir George or not Sir George !" but the name of that veteran has now dropped out of the list of political leaders, and there are few even of his warmest admirers who look upon him as " tlte coming man." Failing him, there is no other man on that side of the House capable of organising a party, or, if a party wei'e orgauised, of holdiug it together. The loc il government qut-stion will, without doubt, be mooted at every hustings ; but the people have as yet shown so little interest in the subject that it would hardly be safe to trust to that as a basis of operations The Ministry can safely make their appeal to the country on the ground of what they have done, and we shall bet greatly mistaken if it does not transpire at the elections that the electors have been so satisfipd with their pa^ policy as to desire further evidences of their legislative and administrative power. The wheel has been lifted out of the rut, ami all sensible men will agree that the car should remain under their charge until they have placed it in a position of perlect safety. To leave the general for the particular, we shall require a new member for the electoral district of Bruce. Mr Murray has distinctly stated his intention of not staudiug again. At present we have only rumours as to the probable candidates for the honor of representing us. It is not unlikely that the system of district representation will be abolished before very long; but so long as it does exist, we must endeavor to obtain a member who wi'l adequately represent the district. This our piesent member can hardly be siid to do. It should be the aim of the electors to return a man who hns some pprsonal interest in Bruce, and who will, by his force of character and talents, have some weight in the House The district is an important one, and every elector should feel a decent pride in being represented by a good man. In order to be ready to take part in the struggle, we advise all our readers who are qualified to register without delay. Six months' residence in the district, and twelve months' in the Colony, are sufficient to qualify, and claims shou d be put in before the rising of Parliament or they may be too late.