The Star. MONDAY, MAY 22, 1882. THE BILL OF FARE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 251, 22 May 1882, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, MAY 22, 1882. THE BILL OF FARE.

The political bill of fare i» a meagre one. Of course, tho Local Government Bills are again promised, but then this is the third time, aud so far as can «be judged by the tenor of the questions recently submitted to local bod/es, the now Bills are merely a ro-baeb of the tmc«-rejected measures. Amendments

of the law affecting: Government Life Insurance, lunatics, married women's property, legal practice, the restraint (at present very slight) on the alienation of land, or to enable affirmations to be made without oaths, are side dishes which will not be discuf-r.cd by tho majority of the M.H.R.'s. The Bill for tho better management <>f native n serves will be of interest here and elsewhere throughout the North Islam!, but is iv>t a measure of any general political significance. Even tho loan so confidently anticipated in hinted at in the vaguest possible terms, in the following sentences: — "These facts appear amply to justify your making provision for the extension and ultimato completion of the main trunk lines of railway, as well as for other important works iv connection with them, to which Parliament has already given its consent. Proposals with these objects will be made, which tho increase of revenue and the icvival of prosperity appear to justify." However, these jiropasals clearly indicate a loan, but whether it is to lie one million or five, would appear to be as yet undecided. It is well known throughout the colony that no more eryiug grievance exists than the present a'ate of the bankruptcy laws. They are daily taken advantage of, even by laborers and tradesmen having liabilities of a few pounds only, which thoy shuffle out of by paying to a lawyer such assets as they may i^ossess to " put them through the Court," instead of dividiug these assets among the creditors.

Of course, it is highly satisfactory to be assured that trade hus revived, revenue increased, aud railways have proved more remunerative than hitherto. But all these facts were known before, and oven more definitely than are stated in the speech : it is difficult even to pretend to be very grateful for stale news.

A very little " reading between the lines'' must convince the most casual reader that the relations between Ministers aud the Governor are very much strained. His Excellency points to tho facts that his advisers 11 felt themselves compelled " to take more active stepa against the Maoris on this coast — " at their request " a sum was voted — when conciliation, in the opinion of my Ministers, had failed — during my absence a proclamation was issued—" a position which was deemed by my advisers" to menace the peace of the colony, &c. Elsewhere the Governor speaks in the first person, but in respeel to the arrest of Te Whiti he is mos* particularly careful to let it be seen that Ministers advised what was done, and to leave out all reference to his own share in the transaction. Tho tone of this part of the speech necessarily suggests that it is incomplete and needs as its complement a sentence to this effect: "Of all which advice and acts I thoroughly disapproved."

A bold but good suggestion is contained in the speech as follows : The present time is, in the opinion of my advisers, a very favorable one at which to press forward the construction of roads, and to facilitate the influx of population. Free immigration we distrust, but nominated or even aaaisted immigration, if strictly limited to the right classes, is an unquestionable boon, both to tho colony and to tho immigrants ; except during times of commercial depression. It is especially Reasonable when borrowed money is to bo spent, because if supplies of labor aro not introduced at tho same time as loans aro being spent, the farmers and producers, in fact all employers of labor, have to compote with the Government for laborers, and both suffer by the competition. The power of the colony to absorb the present supply of labor haa been well shown of late by the gradual dispersion of all gangs of pauper workmen, mis-named the "Unemployed."