The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DEC. 13, 189C. Political

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 76, 13 December 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DEC. 13, 189 C. Political

What is going to happen when the new Parliament meets is the one question which at present agitates the public mind. It is a favorite notion with supporters of the present Govern ment, that the party of which Mr Ballance is the recognised head, will be too weak to hold office even if Mr Ballance overcomes the first difficulty of forming a Ministry. That is, of course, one of these opinions very easy to express, but very difficult to prove that its basis is sound. As the weak» ness of the Atkinson Government was a natural consequence of tbe weakness of the Opposition, it as naturally follows that the strength of an Opposition headed by such a clever tactician as Sir Harry Atkinson, would strengthen the hands of Mr Ballance's Cabinet. Where the Opposition formerly acted from impulse, with haste and without forethought, it is not too much to expect that when in office now they will exorcide the virtues of prudence and discretion, iv order that they may not lay their position open to the attacks of an ever watchful and experienced enemy. There has been some talk of Sir Harry Atkinson asking the Governor for a dissolution. Well, in our opinion, if Sir Harry " goes to the country" he will make a huge mistake. His following in the last Parliament was far stronger than they are now. And another such contest as the <ne just ended would still further reduce their numbers. One of the most remarkable facts in connection with the elections, and likely to have a distinct effect for the good or evil on the future of the colony, is the return of about twenty candidates representing the Labor party. If these members are loyal to each other and the electors who returned them, they will constitute a pojver which will have to be reckoned with. At the commencement of the election campaign the labor party were simply an undisciplined rabble, whereas now they are a well organised army with officers at their head whom they can respect and follow. That is a fact which neither the present Premier nor the Opposition dare ignore, both having felt the effects, to their cost. An appeal to the country therefore would be likely to do more harm than good. It is the opinion — and no doubt the ardent hope — of the supporters of the present Ministry, that the Opposition are not strong enough to govern the country, but that is only a matter of opinion after all, and the present Ministry have almost succeeded in educating the electors into the knowledge of how very little brains are needed for that purpose. The honestest plan will be for the Premier to follow the constitutional practice strictly, to do battle with and, if he can, defeat Mr Ballance on the floor of the House. An appeal to the country would only be putting tbe colony to the expense of another general election, and — worse than that — making more clear aud sharp the lines between labor and capital, and thus further separating those who should be working shoulder to shoulder for their mutual profit and advantage. Nor must it be forgotten that after the census of 1891, to be taken next April, a re-distribution of seats will be iuevi table.