Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1881. MINISTERIAL DODGERY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6076, 20 September 1881, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1881. MINISTERIAL DODGERY.

The actions of Ministei's during the last few days have been such as to utterly destroy any remnant of confidence in them or their motives. By various pretexts, excuses, and unexpected flank movements they have managed thoroughly to disgust even their own supporters. They have got the Opposition well out of their way, and are carrying everything in a high-handed and arbitrary fashion, and are showing just what they would have done before had it not been for the powerful check of Mr Orrnond aud the moderates of the House. Let us •look at a few of the things they have accomplished.

They have, in direct violation of pledges to the House and promises to Mr Wright, practically burked the Taranaki Harbor Board Bill. Mr Wright could have insisted on the measure being debaled, and i£ debated it must have been carried, but from time to time he consented to postpone the bill at the request of Ministers, they giving a distinct pledge that they would not try to shelve it. At last the end of the session began to draw near, members were departing to look after their elections, and the House showed signs of utter disorganisation and an impatience of all business. Mr Wright saw the chances of the bill passing becoming daily less, and began to exhibit signs of impatience. To quieten him the bill was brought in for an hour or two, and lie was then induced to agree to the adjournment of the debate on the promise that it should he taken up again before going into Committee oE Supply. When the time came for going into Oom--1 mittfe of Supply the bill was called onSeveral Ministerial supporters then commenced to talk upon it, until the desired effect -fas obtained, and members impatiently demanded the settlement of the business. Still the talkers talked, and again the debate was adjourned. Mr Wright could no longer shut his eyes to the patent fact that he had been " sold," and last week he left Wellington iv disgust, previously renouncing all allegiance to the Ministry. The effect of this burking of the bill will be to secure the Taranaki breakwater job. The Harbor Board will make haste to spend the £105,000 now lying in the bank, and will also anticipate an}' future colonial contributions by accepting tenders for the work. In the end the country will find itself 'simply " jockej'od " out of about a quarter-million of money. Then came the " working " of the Representation Bill. All amendments to the schedule when the bill was in committee in the House were either flatly refused by the Chairman or were promptly negatived by large majorities. "We now sec how these majorities were obtained. Ministers went to their supporters and promised thafe they would, by message from the Governor, make such alterations in the schedules as would be convenient to them, provided they would vote against all amendments proposed by opponents of the Ministry. This dodge worked admirably. The amendments were brought down as promised — which should be noted as about the only attempt to fulfil a Ministerial promise this session. Those members interested had been kept in Wellington, -while the Opposition, thinking that the Representation Bill had been done with, had gone away. So the amendments were passed. This is one of the most discreditable jobs which has ever been attempted in the New Zealand Legislature. We know of only one thing to equal it, and that is Sir George Grey's attempt to burke the Land Bill after it had passed through Parliament. If these things stood alone Ministers would have forfeited all claim to public confidence, but there has to be added the determination to stick to office at all risks. They no doubt feel that the coming elections: will go against them, and that at the meoting of Parliament ' their death-knell as a Ministry will be sounded. Men of a keen sense of honor would on this account insist upon a verdict being pronounced at the earliest opportunity, but Mr Hall and his colleagues do not seem to possess this nice sense of honor, for they insist upon making the meeting of Parliament as late as possible, so that they may retain power for another nine months, however the elections may go. They will no doubt carry their object, seeing the way they have manipulated the House. Tim is of a piece with their lately shown determination to descend to anything i-ather than resign. It is not to be wondered at that a man like Mr Rollesfcon should have resigned his office several times, in disgust at the actions of his colleagues, and those who know him can well believe the current report that he is only induced to remain a Minister by the fear of being accused of acting like a rat, in deserting a sinking ship.

Bills whicli Ministers like are now being rushed tJirough. without the slightest consideration being accorded to them, and bills which Ministers do not like are being quietly pushed on one side, abandoned or " shelved," which, is an easier and equally efficacious way of damning an obnoxious measure. Nest sossion no doubt wo shall be flooded with amendment bills repealing and altering this hasty legislation, but in the meantime a large amount of mischief may be worked. For this the Hall Ministry must bo held purely and simply responsible.

THAT HONOBAEIUM BUSINESS. Sojie men never know when they are well-off. Mr Wood, M.L.0., is one of those. Ho escaped by "the skin of his teeth " an adverse report by the Honorarium Sale Committee, owing to the simple fact that he repudiated the alleged transaction with Mr Eeeves, and — here is the pomt — was able, in confirmation of this statement, to point to the fact thatohe had never paid the money over to Mr Eeeves. If he had stopped there he would have been all right. But it seems that, immediately afterwards, Mr Waterhouse, for some inexplicable reason, advised Mr Wood to pay the money, and Mr Wood accordingly sent his cheque for

£40 to Mr Reeves, and so flatly contradicted, in the most practical manner, his evidence given, before the committee. The cream of the joke lSj however, the denouement. Mr Reeves was away, so the cheque was handed to his bosom friend and confidant, Mr Seddon. One of the "Wellington banks had f»n account against Mr Reeves, and on the manager hearing that this £40 cheque was lying in the custody of Mr Seddon, he applied to the Supreme Court, and obtained an order on Mr Seddon for the £40. So Mr Wood paid the money, but Mr Reeves never had the gratification of handling it.