Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1884. POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6778, 9 February 1884, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1884. POLITICS.

Though there appears to be litte life on I the surface of the political stream just now, there are quiet but active undercurrents at work. It is generally admitted, even by Ministerial supporters, that the Atkinson cabinet has lost much ground during the recess. From the Premier downwards there is a want of appreciation of the people. The people want economy in administration ; Ministers increase departmental expenses in a manner almost reckless, and while occasionally descending to talk about economy they persist in extravagance. The people want the public works, or at least the railways, to be worked so as to pay interest on cost ; Ministers, by foolish concessions to a Canterbury ring, decrease the revenue and increase the expenses. The people want a better system of local government and less centralism ; Ministers make promises one year which they break the next, and during their term of office the evils of centralism have rapidly spread. The people want charitable aid and the maintenance of hospitals put upon a sounder and more permanent basis ; the Premier responds by propounding an absurd scheme of national insurance at which his own colleagues openly laugh. In short, the whole administration of the Atkinson Cabinet has been out of accord with the wishes of the people. Had it not been for Sir George Grey, who has been well styled "The Mephistopheles of New Zealand," and for the fear that he would somehow manage to seize the reins, the days of the present Ministry would have been numbered long since 5 they have not retained power by their own strength or merits, but by holding " Bogey Grey " up to followers who threatened to desert. " A weak Ministry but a weaker Opposition " describes in one sentence the present position. There is no organisation in either party. The most severe lectures are read to Ministers by their own supporters ; the leaders of the Opposition fail to criticise Ministerial proposals in an adequate manner, and their followers consequently carry on a sort of guerilla attack on their own account, and in the absence of capacity for criticism and dignified debate use personalities and hurl reckless charges of corruption against the occupants of the Treasury benches. Nor does there seem any hope of a better state of things next session. When the House meets the Ministerial following will be more independent than ever. Both parties will probably be anxious for an early dissolution, but nevertheless there will be no agreement. The Opposition will doubtless desire to bring about a dissolution by a direct noconfidence motion, and one of their objects will be to force a statement of Ministerial policy, especially in regard to finance and taxation. In the event of defeat Ministers would be entitled to demand a dissolution, so in any event they can remain in power until after the eleotions. Nor, as far as can be gathered, do the cooler members of the Opposition desire anything else. They recognise the fact that any Ministry which could be formed from their present ranks must be miserably weak and discordant in its elements. They look beyond the session, to the next election, when they hope to be not only, numerically stronger, but to have among them more able men. Already negotiations are known to be quietly proceding, havinefor their object a union of leading politicians in and out of Parliament on a common platform. It is felt that if such a combination of forces could be effected on the basis of a self-reliant and vigorous, but moderate, policy, the better men on both sides of the House would be attracted, and Sir George Grey and his personal following and Major Atkinson and his personal supporters might attack in vain. On the other hand, it is whispered in well-informed quarters, Ministers are not idle. They, too, intend if possible to carry the country at the election, and their plans are being prepared accorpingly. It is thought that they will make no effort to do any real work during the coming session; the time will be taken up with party manoeuvres preparatory to entering upon the electoral campaign. They do not want a long session, or real work. They have got the colonial finances into a pretty pickle/ and whatever steps are taken to extricate them must be unpopular, whether it be a reduction of our

overgrown Civil Service or an increase in taxation. The first would be unpopular with " the Service " and their friends, and their combined voting power might turn the elections ; the second would be unpopular with the bulk of the people. It is believed that they will endeavor to burke this unpleasant task, and to bring about an early election, either at the cost of a party defeat or by a collision with the Upper House. It would be quite in accordance with Major Atkinson's traditionary policy if he could manage to effect a serious breach with the Legislative Council on the question of reforming that Chamber. His "card," it is said, is to go to the country on this cry, and to say as little as possible about the finances of the country. For our part, we do not think any such attempt to trail a red herring across the scent will succeed. The public care little about reforming the Upper House — that is a matter which can wait if necessary — but they do not care about the financial position of the colony, and they are anxious to see the expenditure brought within the revenue.