The Press. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1894. A CONTRASE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8930, 22 October 1894, Page 4

The Press. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1894. A CONTRASE.

Thb parliamentary session of 189. is to ail intents and purposes at an end. There remains but to count the cost and pay the bill—the latter about tbe only privilege possessed by tbe people in connection with our parliamentary institutions. Did ever previous session begin with louder blare and bray of Ministerial trumpet.?' Did session ever cud more ignobly? Iv all the history of the colony was ever Governmental promise ao prodigal aud performance so pitiful 1 The people of New Zealand must, when pondering over the session, so ignominiously closed, recall those pre-election days when Ministers stumped the country, filling the air with self adulatory p&aus. The electors cannot fail to remember how, from a hundred platforms, north, south, east and west, Ministers proclaimed in tones stentorian or shrill, in terms flowery and sweet, or surcharged with gall towards political opponents, the advent of New Zealand's Golden Age. The constituencies will recall the solemn assurances of a Government on the stump to tne effect that the threatened era of pre-eminent peace, progress, and prosperity could be. attained, and attained only, by the return of Ministers and a majority of Ministerial supporters. So long, so loud were the proclamations of the coming millennium, so profuse the pledges, so mendacious the attacks on all those opposed to Ministers, that a majority of the elector, in a majority of the constituencies, undeterred by their experience of the fallacy of preelection promises, succumbed to the allurements of the somewhat clumsy charmers. The country was once again captured by mere words. Some electors with that astounding and childlike faith which survives eveu in the most sceptical epoch, actually believed the Ministerial promises. Others only gartially believed, bub hoped much, there, again, more sagacious, though doubting, deemed that those who pro fessed so much should at least be afforded an opportunity for performance. The - result is well known. Miuisters started tbe session with prac tically the majority of tbe country behind them, and with an unprecedented majority in the House—-unexampled not only for numbers, but for the blind obedience their parliamentary party were ready to accord their leaders. What previous Ministry could boast of commencement so auspicious *? They were professedly and professionally "saviours of their country." How splendid their opportunity to redeem a portion at least of their lavish pledges; bow unique the occasion for the display of that patriotism which we were aaked to believe, positively oppressed them i

Consider the position. The great majority of members were returned that they might support the alleged Liberal project- of Ministers. There can be no doubt of that. The members in question entered upon tbe duties of the session with a loyalty towards the Government nothing short of phenomenal Of tbat there can be no doubt. Day after day they voted, without) knowledge and without enquiry, aa they were directed to vote. The whips drove them into the lobbies and they obeyed with a fealty almost pathetic. Id those early days tbe major portion of the majority believed in Ministers. Of course, tbere is always a percentage of represeu tativea tbat vote without belief, knowing, in the expressive phraseology of the lobbies, "on which side their bread ia buttered." But moat of the party were, it ia easy to perceive, at> first convinced of the honesty of the

Government, and honest in their support of a Government whioh was to do such great things for the people. There happened precisely what, considering the personnel of the Govern meut, might baee been anticipated. waxed fat and kicked." Iv other words, Mmiaters grew as swolleu in spirit as was their majority in numbers. With such a following tbey felt -safe. They deemed themselves strong enough to ignore the people who had been the means of placing them at the head of affairs. They went further. They considered themselves powerful enough to outrage the feelings of their own faithful followers. They trampled upon any member of the party who dared to call bis soul hia own. In tbe lobbies members were treated to rebukes aud threats. In the House we had the spectacle of a Minister perpetually chiding his adherents as if the latter were whimpering school boys, and of another threatening, in the nianuer of the

village virago, to give them " a piece of my miud." Even " the smallest worm will turn, being trodden on." There is a limit also to human endurance. That limit was reached a few days ago. Mutiny, long simmering, broke out. Tbe majority revolted against their own leaders. To that they were prompted not only by tbe slave-driving to which they had been subjected, but by the oouviciiou which had daily growu atrouger that they bad been used to pass legislation solely iv tbe interests of classes and not in the interests of tbe people as a whole —legislation which by no stretch of imagination could be called Liberal or Democratic. Too late tbey discovered tbey bad been made tbe dupes of ambitious and self-seeking men, masquerading ia Liberal guise.

Io is hardly necessary to further emphasise the appalling contrast between the opening and tbe closing of the session of 1894. The Ministry that signalised their accession hy a series of uninterrupted victories have ciosed the session with a series of disastrous defeats. The on«e united party is distracted and torn by uissensiou. The faith they onoe miinifesied in their leaders i 3 gone. Ministers, keenly alive to the danger which threatens them, have withdrawn Bill after mil iv their haste to disperse a discontented and rebellious House. Tbe people, tardily awakiug to the position, perceiving that they bave once again been fooled, are glad that tbe House sbould prorogue before it has tbe chance to woik other and even more irreparable injury to the oountry. The whole policy of the session has deepened distrust, destroyed values, frightened capitalists from coming to our shores, and prevented settlement. Tbe .omniercial atmosphere is thick with forebodings as to the future, depression is over the whole land, financial trouble-., menace ou every side owing to the reckless borrowing proposals of tbe Government, while the genuine unemployed question is uo nearer to, but much iarth.r from, g.ttiemeuc than ever.