The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 1897. A POLITICAL STRIKE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 226, 21 January 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 1897. A POLITICAL STRIKE.

F«.r the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

The Opposition have often been twitte d with being a party with neither nanus nor policy. They resent being called Conservatives, and assert that it is not the fluty of the Opposition to formulate a policy. Why there should he such anxietv to disown the term of Conservative is inexplicable. In the Mother Country the Conservatives anil powerful well organised party with a char cut policy, and a model for the New Zealand parties. However there is something in a name, and while the Opjxjsition cannot appropriate the term " Liberal ' they hope to bask in the sunshine of popular goodwill under the banner of " The National Party." But the name of the party is of small moment, " a rose by any name would smell as sweet" ami whatever name the Opjtosition may take will lie easily recognised by their sentiment* and policy. It is the policy of the Opposition that is certain to arrest attention. True, the policy is not clearly delined, nor has it been announced by ihc Leader of the Party, nevertheless what there is of it is interesting. It wasfuredbadowed at the valedictory social tendered to l>r Newman hut .Saturday at the village of .Jobnsouviih and amounts to thin, that in the coming M-ssion of Parha mulit the Opposition will obstruct public busine-n uuletia such information a.- affects the interest*) and welfare of the colony kg"« 0 Uj I'wli&went by

Ministers when requested in a formal and constitutional manner to do so. In a word the Opposition will strike if not furnished with certain information that should be made public. We are rather in favour of the Opposition taking this course, for whatever may be the merits of the Government in other respects, they cannot lay claim to being prodigal with information. It is painful to note the paucity of the returns that are furnished, and the dilatoriness with which they are furnished. To give an illustration, most of the other Colonies were able to furnish the quarter's revenue returns on the third instant; the United Kingdom with its gigantic figures had its revenue returns out by the same date; but here in New Zealand we are still waiting for our returns. It is simply scandalous, and, the Government is responsible, th.e Government must be made to feel that responsibility. The apologists of the Government, in the press, assert that to furnish information, especially of a financial nature, is to supply the Opposition with material with which to discredit the Government, and defame the Colony. There is no foundation for such statements. Faircriticism —and criticism of the Government is the sole occupation of the Opposition—could never defame the Colony, but criticism may cause the Government to be discredited. We refuse to recognise in the excuse, even if it be true, the right of the Government to withhold information. It has been pro vided by law that certain information should be furnished. Furthermore, the information is for the public good, and that supplies the strongest argument for its publication. The proposal of the Opposition to stop public business, unless the demands of the party for returns are conceded, may be a harsh way of securing their ends, but under the circumstances it appears justifiable. It is amazing to think that the details of the public accounts to the 31st March last are only just now being made public ; nearly twelve months. We venture to say that no other country, enjoying the privileges of selfGoverument, would tolerate such a state of things. The Opposition, with the increase of strength secured by the general election, are in a better position to thwart the Government than they were last session, and we may take it for granted that Mr Seddon knows his following, and knows just how far he can go with safety. It may happen that next session the Opposition may not have the opportunity of obstructing business, for it is not unlikely that Mr Seddon, realising his position, will accept the inevitable and furnish such returns and information as are usually supplied to Parliament. The whole question of returns and statistical information requires earnest consideration, and efforts should be made to get this furnished fully and promptly. Home of the information now supplied is valueless, being defective in detail, and useless for purposes of comparison.