The Press. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1879.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4433, 15 October 1879, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1879.

In yesterday's article we briefly pointed out what the duty of the Government clearly is in the face of the determination of Mr. Macandrew and his supporters to return, if they can, te office without any delay. We showed that in taking the course which he has, the member for Port Chalmers is violating the rules and principles which should guide men placed in his position. Those whom he is anxious to displace have just been called to power as the result of a general election. That appeal to the constituencies had been made at the instance of the late occupants of the Treasury Benches. They had been defeated in a previous Parliament by a considerable majority on account of incompetence and mal-adminis-tration. They sought and obtained a dissolution, and the answer they got was that the colony no longer trusted them. When the House assembled they had to retire, and the leader of the Opposition was called on to form an Administration. Without any unnecessary delay the new Government was got together. The mere announcement of the names of the Ministry called forth expressions of the liveliest satisfaction from all parts of the colony. It was at once felt that now something would really be known regarding- the state of public affairs, and that if patient industry and indomitable energy, coupled with ability, could produce an improvement a change for the better would speedily be effected.

The late Government are determined to prevent this if possible. Contrary to all constitutional usage, as we have shown, they wish to prevent the Hall Government from bringing down their measures, and from making themselves intimately acquainted with the condition of the different departments. They can assign no good and sufficient reason for the course they are taking. They did not wait till the Government had had an opportunity of introducing their Bills and laying their policy before the country, before entering upon a course of obstruction. The moment Ministers took their seats upon the Treasury Benches they set to work. The anxiety they displayed to return at once to power showed only too plainly their terror at the prospect of the light of day being let in upon the mass I of corruption and culpable extravagance which had characterised their tenure of office. Among the paltry reasons assigned for Mr. Macandrew's motion is one which at first sight might appear to deserve some notice. It has been argued that according to the wording of the resolution which had resulted in the resignation of the Grey Government, Mr. Hall was bound to attempt a re-construction of the late Government, or confess his inability to form a Ministry. The argument is scarcely worthy of serious notice. The meaning of the resolution was plain

to the meanest comprehension, and if the leaders of the Opposition affect to find in its wording an excuse for the course they are adopting, that is no reason why the Government should in any way recognise their contention. It is a mere excuse for the conduct of those who voted against the Grey Government, arfd have since deserted Mr. Hall because they have been disappointed at not being included in his Administration. Besides it must not be forgotten that the members of the late Government made it quite plain that they would not accept office in a coalition Ministry, so that even had Mr. Hall been willing to offer a portfolio to any member of the Grey Ministry, the public announcement of their determination to refuse the offer precluded him from doing so.

It cannot be denied that the present condition of affairs is eminently unsatisfactory. Owing to the even state of the House, it is|evident that were Mr. Hall to leave office at once, the present Opposition could not hope to form a Ministry having a working majority, even were they able to keep together all those they claim to have on their side. Men who are not restrained by inconvenient scruples have an immense advantage over those who desire to do what is right, and who refuse to make promises they cannot possibly perform. By the use of means Mr. Hall would scorn to employ, the Opposition leaders can only succeed in enlisting the temporary aid of a sufficient number of members to render their success an open question in the opinion of their own supporters. What the result would be were Mr. Macandrew actually to be called upon to form a Ministry can easily be imagined. He cannot give the whole of the score or more of the would-be Ministers portfolios. The moment he announced the list of his colleagues to the House the bond that held some members to his cause would be dissolved. He would be once more at the mercy of the Opposition.

In the meantime, the course resolved upon by the Government is undoubtedly the right one to pursue. They must go on steadily at the task they have undertaken to perform. It is not enough that they should lay before us the alarming financial position of the colony. The dark doings of the Native office must be stated in all their naked deformity for the benefit of those who still profess to look upon the late Government and its individual members as worthy of the utmost respect and admiration. When they have done all this—when they have enabled the electors of New Zealand to realise what they have been suffering at the hands of the Grey Administration, and what they may yet expect to undergo if the same men practically return to office —they will, at least, have rendered an inestimable service to those who are fighting the battle of honest government and upright administration against that of downright corruption. It will be time enough when Ministers have done all this to allow Mr. Macandrew's motion to come on. After they have announced their policy, and informed the colony of its true position, they will, no doubt, give every facility to Mr. Macandrew to test the opinion of the House, and will at once act upon the decision arrived at.