The Press. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7738, 18 December 1890, Page 4

The Press. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890.

As soon as the results of the general 'elections were known Mr. Ballangb and his friends immediately raised tbe cry that- the Government must resign at once. So impatient,- indeed, were they that they were not even disposed to allow the, Premier time to consult with his colleagues as to their position. They demanded in the most imperative tone that the administration of the affairs of the country should without a day's delay be banded over to themselves, and they set about the task of constituting the new Government, on the assumption that power was already in their grasp. Its individual members were mentioned in more than one quarter, and ib was taken for granted as a matter of course that long before this time Mr. Ballanozs and his colleagues would be installed in office. We ventured to point out at the time that the Opposition victory was far from being jcertain as their prgans endeavored to make out. Subsequent oareful enquiry has shown that we would have been justified in putting the case even more strongly than we did. It is now evident that in the present House Minioters have a definite, if only a small, majority, while it is undoubtedly the case that Mr. Ballance is in a distinct minority. In these circumstances, it is quite ridiculous to pretend that it is the duty of the Government at onoe to resign in order to give Mr. B&LkAXQM an opportunity of endeavouring to form an Administration. There are some who assert that the Ministerial position is such as would fully justify them in holding office till the House meets in the usual way in April next. We do not agree with that view. There are several reasons why, inour opinion, the House should be called together at the earliest convenient date. Although the Government have , a majority in the new House as against i Mr. Ballan - b, • it is recognised that, owing to the state of tbe Premier's health, a re-construotioa or obange of some kind is inevitable; and, in the circumstances, the House has a right to be oonsulted on the question. It is true that a reconstruction might be arranged, as has been done before when Parliament ia not in session. His Excellency, how- | ever, would have to be satisfied that I his new Advisers were likely, to comI mand tbe confidence of the people's | representatives, and in the existing state of things it might be difficult to do so. It is the business of the Governor to see that the Queen's Government is carried on, and lie might not be disposed to sanction i changes which might lead to future [difficulties and complications. But a reconstruction from the Ministerial | side of the House, provided it met with the approval of his Excellency, would not be an unconstitutional act, ' It would be a different matter altogether were Ministers to resign now, ; and if asked for advice, recommend that Mr. Baliakok should be sent for. We would then have, en the Sace of it, a provisional Government, formed from the ranks of a party in a distinct minority, and therefore likely to be at once defeated when Parliament met in April. As matters stand, the Qpposi* tion leaders have no claim to be considered at the present time, and their vehement demand for the immediate , resignation of the Ministry in order' that tbey may be sent for, shows h«w eager they must be for office, and betrays a consciousness pf the utter Weakness of their position, Mr. Ballancb, however, has not confined himself to making bis yiews on the political situation known through the medium of the public journals. He can, if he likes, shut his eyes to the obvious truth and claim as large a majority as he pleases in the new House, |uch pro-* eeedjngs will not alter existing facta. Mr, Ballahob has sot a majority in the House because be says he has. When, then, he proceeds on the strength of that gratuitous assumption to tender advice to his Exoelleaay,

it is time that the impartfnetioe of the proceeding should be pointed out. Mr. Bal__ncis , 3 protest to the Governor oa the subject of the .Legislative Council appointments amounted to advice tendered to his Excellency. What right, we would ask, has the Member for Wanganui to interfere in euoh a matter? The Governor can have only one set of advisers at the same time. The present Government are atili in office, and are responsible for the acts of hia Excellency, If anything is done, on their advice, which doe* not meet with Mr Ballance's approval, there ia a oonstituatonal way of expressing dissatisfaction when the House meets. But to claim the right, as that gentleman apparently does, of actually interfering iv a matter with whioh he has absolutely nothing whatever to do, betrays not only an overweening sense of his own importance, but the gravest ignorance of constitutional propriety. We know, of oourse, that Mr. Bauancb considered that when the elections were announced he had the ball at his foot. He evidently felt that he had to wait only a few hours in order to be placed in possession of the reins of office. Ministers did not take quite the same view of the position, to Mr. Ballanob's grievous 'disappointment. The fact that Ministers have not yet resigned has not, however, prevented the member for Wanganui from acting as if he were already charged with the responsibilities of office. In his view he is the proper adviser of his Excellency, and he has acted on that assumption, His action in forcing his gratuitous advice upon the Governor is, we repeat, a piece of gross impertinence; and we are greatly mistaken if it is not warmly resented when the House meets.