Hawkes Bay Herald WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5518, 22 October 1879, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Herald WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Ukless the next few days see some compromise between the Government party and the Opposition, we shall be in the midst of a deadlock as disastrous as that which occurred in Victoria two years ago. The Opposition are sufficiently powerful to prevent any supplies being granted for the public service, and they say they are prepared to go to this extreme length unless the Ministry will allow the debate and division on Mr Macandrew's "no confidence " motion to be taken at an early date. Ministers show no intention of yielding, all their promises being apparently intended only to stave off the evil day, and to mislead the Opposition. Their supporters seem to be prepared to back them up in any extremes. In the meantime, while politicians are wrangling and struggling for place and power, the Treasury chest is empty, , and hundreds of Government employes have to wait for their salaries. All the men employed on railways or other public works will not be paid, and the distress caused may be widespread — we may in New Zealand even witness " a " Black "Wednesday" such as Victoria experienced, for when men's passions are aroused in political strife they seem to care for none but themselves, and, if they think that by so doing they can score a point against their antagonist they will go to any extremes..

The Ministry profess to remain in office against the will of a majority in the jSouse because they are afraid to let the late occupants of the Treasury benches return to power. And yet they have actually proposed to form a coalition Ministry which shall include

any four meJnberß whom Mr Macandrew may nominate ! This either means that they are willing to jojn hands with Mr Macandrew, Mr Sheehan, Mr Ballance, and Colonel Whit* Biore— -the men whom 1 they are denouncing- -or it means nothing. . The fact is jbjlat on both sides <bf the JEtquse there & a discreditable "hankering after the sweets of office. To some the salary of a Minister is the attraction ; to others it is a love of power. One .feeling is a. little more creditable than 'the other, but the exhibition of either -is°not calculated to raise the tone of our. Legislature, or to ensure the inspect of the people for their" rulers. The Grey Ministry first showed how ib was pos- : sible to ward off a "ho-confidence " motion, .and Mr Hall and his friends have been but. too: apt pupils. All lovers of purity and honor in the colony: I must regret to see .this disgraceful! clinging to office,. no. matter what party .itj-tnay be which exhibits it. It is not edifying to see the Hall Ministry resorting to the tactics they are now. practising, nor is the spectacle, of the willingness of the Opposition to go to extreme measures, such as refusing supply simply, to oust the . Ministry,: very pleasant to contemplate.