MINISTERIAL INTENTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 6807, 22 January 1886, Page 1

MINISTERIAL INTENTIONS.

There is quite a surplusage just now of Ministerial manifestoes; but we cannot say that any particular enlightenment has yet been cast on the future policy of the Cabinet. There is a confusion of information, the character of which leaves people about as wise as before its reception. The Premier, in his two deliverances, seemed to consider that the whole duty of a member of the Ministry, formed by coalition of party and principle, is to abuse their predecessors in office. He gave a very uncertain sound as to the policy of the future; but, as usual, his sentiments were irreproachable, If his intentions are not also, as usual, devoted to the pavement of the road to She6l, the country may expect substantial advantages from his influence in moulding the polity of the State. Mr Ballance, according to his wonted custom, sang second to the Premier, and was in no respect original, except in his view of Native affairs. Not being a modest man to the extent of being “to his own merits dumb,” he told the electors of Wanganui, and through them assured the Colony, that he had done more during his brief tenure of office towards the definite settlement of the Native question than all previous Native Ministers. The brilliant success of his management, if he is to believed, has quite thrown in the shade the administration of Mr Richmond, Sir Donald McLean, and Mr Bryce, and the Maoris regard him as a most excellent benefactor and friend. The vulgar adage has it that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we shall see in due course how far Mr Ballanob’s estimate of himself and his official work as Native Minister is justified by results. Mr Larnach took a different line altogether, neither indulging in Utopian speculation, nor making himself out to be a Heaven-bom Minister. His rdle would appear to have been somewhat analogous to that of the blunt partner who blurts out, as it were undesignedly, things not desirable to be put forward on the responsibility of the firm. One particular Minister is generally selected for this business. If the proposals he talks about are possible, and the theories which, as of his own idea, he formulates, happen to suit the public taste, we hear more about them in due course; but should they not take there is no particular harm done, and the Ministry are in no ways committed. The latest manifesto—for it is to all intents and purposes a manifesto—is the report of an interview with the Colonial Treasurer by a member of the Auckland ‘Herald’s’ staff' Sir Julius Vogel has evidently not been altogether satisfied with the deliverances of his lieutenants, so he devised a little arrangement whereby he should appear to be questioned after the ordinary fashion of Press interviewers, and to reply with that engaging candor which is his characteristic. There is, however, strong internal evidence in the account of the interview that the questions were inspired, and did not in a natural manner evolve from a praiseworthy design to obtain information interesting to the public. Sir Julius was anxious, no doubt, that it should be generally understood that the hint given by Mr Ballance, to the effect that the present Parliament might not again be called together for business, was not based on his (Sir Julius Vogel’s) idea as to the fitness of things. The Government have not, Sir Julius practically asserts, as yet decided to recommend His Excellency to dissolve. “ It may be considered that no decision “ one way or the other has been come “ to, nor is likely to be arrived at for “ several weeks ”! It must be surmised from this that the question of a dissolution is under the consideration of Ministers, and that they are waiting to see how the cat jumps with regard to such principles of policy as have been in one way or another put forward, before they arrive at a definite determination as to the course they will pursue. That very little hope is entertained of securing a working majority in the present House of Representatives seems to be clear from the expression of opinion on the subject by the Ministers who have recently spoken. Mr Larnach was especially explicit, and made no bones at all about declaring that the present state of*! parties, or rather confusion of parties, ~ precluded the possibility of any important measure being passed into law. The facts of the situation, we choose to conceive, are somewhat thus : Sir Julius really has his policy cut and dried—complete, may be, in the minutest detail—but he is not quite sure of all his colleagues, and, although naturally of a sanguine disposition, is by no means certain in his own mind as to their acceptation to important sections of the community, first, he has to obtain the complete unreserved approval of the Cabinet as a whole; and then it is unquestionable that, previously to advising His Excellency to dissolve Parliament on the grounds that it is hopeless to expect the House to accept their policy, this policy must be before members and the country. This may be effected, we quite believe, without the very considerable cost being incurred of a Parliamentary session. It may be with this view in the interests alike of economy and convenience that a dissolution about the end of the financial year is contemplated. There can, of course, be little doubt that should the Government promulgate a policy of finance and public works such as has been indicated, they

Rave, considering that tho Parliament is practically moribund, the right to appeal to the country. We will go further, and say that before the Colony is committed to further borrowing which would increase the public indebtedness by one fourth, it is the bounden duty of tho Ministry, whether they command a majority or not in tho present House, to refer the question to the constituencies. Our own opinion remains the same as when the first sketch of what was called the “ new policy ” appeared. The borrowing of the millions for the purpose indicated is not objectionable, provided that efficient measures are taken, without additional taxation, to provide “ ways and means ” to meet the increased accruing interest. It all depends on this, and we anticipate that the success or failure of the policy to gain tho approval of the people will rest on the conviction or otherwise that their burthens will not be increased. It is, therefore, essential to a judgment as to the raising eight or ten millions, not only how tho money is to be expended, but how the country is to be enabled to meet the additional interest. This most important issiie, it may be noted, Ministers in their speeches, and Sir Julius at the interview, avoid, and we remain still in the dark as to the process or the measures to be proposed. Can it be that the Treasurer really has it in his mind to pay tho interest on all loans, raised for expenditure on public works, out of capital 1