NOTES BY COLONUS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1032, 4 May 1894, Page 3

NOTES BY COLONUS.

« HONOUtt BItIGHT. The present Government of New Zealand calls itself, I believe, a democratic government. It certainly seems at present to be a popular Government, and to all appearances is a strong one, apparently having a good deal of support inside and outside the house. It has, however, some able antagonists, who do not fail to have a cut at it when they can find a suitable opportunity of doing so. One very serious chargo brought by its antagonists against the Government is that it has showed an inclination to interfere in elections for menibers of the House of Representatives, and that it did so in the late Waitemata election. As to whether fche Government does or does not so interfere, or if so, to what extent, I do not express an opinion * but I think members of the Government should so aot as not fco arouse the faintest suspicion of foul play. Undoubtedly for any Government to use the large power which ifc possesses to control elections and coercevoterswouldbeanaborninable proceeding. It was once said by a prominent New Zealand politican that the first duty of a government was to ' stick in.' Ido not see it, but I can well understand that it is the duty of a Government to go out as soon as ever it is apparent it is no longer wanted in. Nofc improbably a government will rather weaken than strengthen itself by resorting to any unauthorised tactics to consolidate its power, and any strong suspicion which gets abroad that it does so, will cause it to fall very considerably in public estimation. Any Government which wishes to stand well with the people, should be careful in its words and actions not to allow the slightest suspicion to get abroad that ifc is capable of resorting to mean and paltry devices to obtain support. The British are a free people and hate to be bullied, and any attempt to interfere with their legitimate freedom of action arouses in. them wrath, indignation, and opposition. Personally lam not an opposer of the present Government and wish it well, and am troubled to see charges brought against; it calculated to lower its moral standing in the country.