The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1888.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5275, 19 July 1888, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1888.

It seems at last pretty certain that all intrigues for ousting tho Ministry havo been abandoned. The Houso may therefore bo said to havo come to its senses, and resolved to settle down to solid work. Much as we have reason to feel dissatisfied with the action of the Government in pandoring to the sickly protectionist cry of tho so-called Liberal party, and greatly as Ministers have disappointed tho party that put them in power, the widest latitude is due to them for the unthankful task they undertook when they accepted offico. It cannot be said of the Government that they have not fulfilled their pledges. They were pledged to effect retrenchment, and put tho finances of tho colony into order. They have largely effected tho one, and they have increased the Customs revenue to secure the other. We think that another course might have been pursued, so as to have avoided us far as possiblo the imposition of burdens on the classes least able to bear them. But we recognise this—that tbe "Liberals," had they regained power, would not have economised, or attempted to cut down expenditure; that tho last, thing that the)' would have done would have been to curtail the power and patronage of the Executive ; and that if thoy had wanted more revenue the Customs duties would have been more largely increased than they have been by the jiresent Ministry. Of the two evils, certainly the least has been chosen, and, opposed as the Freotnvdo party is to the. Ministerial tariff, it will not lend itself to any scheme for jumping out of tho frying-pan into tho fire. For some time there has been an attempt made to get support to an attack on tho Government by the aid of Mr Withy's amendment, but wo are glad to know that it has quite failed. It is now almost certain that the Government arcsafo for this session. At thesamctimethe position is anything but satisfactory. Since the loss of tho support of the Freetrado party the Government have had to make terms with tbe Opposition before thoy can be sure of passing anything. This occurred, it will bo remembered, over tho appointment of the (Select Committee on the Native Bills. Tho Government had to withdraw tho motion they had prepared, and to accept a compromise from tho Opposition. This must necessarily mean that nothing beyond essential business will bo gone on with. If thoy can manage to pass the Native Bills, and tho Native Land Rating Repeal Bill, it is more than probable that tho estimates wilt bo pushed through, and tho session closed.