The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1779, 30 August 1866, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866.

A singular coincidence of opinion seemed to characterise the views expressed by ourselves and the Press on Monday morning last. There was the same jealousy of a Ministry composed of elements essentially opposed to each other, and brought together only by a force of circumstances which compelled the abnegation of principles once stoutly defended, and ot personal feelings most unreservedly expressed. On Tuesday our contemporary toned down his complaints to a general expression of dissatisfaction, alleviated by the conviction that the members of the Weld party, who, instead of impeaching Mr. Stafford took office under him, must have had good and sufficient reasons for so doing. Yesterday a still more advanced step was taken in the same direction. The country was congratulated, actually congratulated upon the fact that so many men of recognised ability had united to form a powerful and stable Ministry. "We will not mar the effect of our quotations from these three articles by interposing any observations of our own, but leave the gradation of sentiment to speak for itself.

On Monday the Press announces: " It is impossible not to feel some little surprise that the members of Mr, Weld's cabinet should have lent themselves to the success of these (Mr. Stafford's) intrigues, and should consent to serve under a leader who drove their late chief from office, and who opposed in every step the policy which they were once so eager to advocate, It is sad to find that even the men of the highest intellect among us are so easily persuaded that the good of the country is equivalent to their own accession to office.

"It appears that one regiment is to be retained. In other words the Weld policy is abandoned. And this is what the Weld party has come to. They have at once betrayed their cause and coudemued themselves to mediocrity. We cannot help fearing that this Cabinet will result in some new disaster to the colony, aud especially to the Middle Island."

On Tuesday the Press explains: —" The worst of the construction of such a Miuistry as that which has just been formed, is that it completely puzzles the whole community. We do not say that the Government is a bad one, nor that the members are dishonest, or ambitious, or unduly eager for office. We know the contrary to be the fact. In point of ability and of personal honour and honesty, there has never been a Ministry formed in New Zealand which stands higher thau that now in office. We believe the colony is sick of the perpetual changes in the Government. It will be glad to see a strong and stable Government in power; but we greatly fear that such a result will not be brought about by the grave violation of all parliamentary propriety, and all party faith, which has been recently committed." On Wednesday the Press retracts: " Mr. Stafford is well known as an able administrator; Mr. Eitzherberfc has proved himself the best financier in New Zealand; while Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Bichmond, and Mr. Hall have in various capacities, both iu Provincial and General Governments, displayed qualities which render it a matter of congratulation to the country that they should have the management of its affairs." .

On Monday, the Weldifces iu office occupied" a fatally false position;" on Tuesday, they were " a puzzle to the whole community;" on Weduesday, " a matter of congratulation to the country," The only thing to be expected after this is that the Press shall bring out a lengthened and elaborate eulogium upon Mr. Stafford as the favourite of fortune, the pattern of consistency aud the enuueiator of the only true and wise policy which can be successfully adopted in dealing with the natives of the Northern Island or the land funds of the South.

Altogether the movements of the Press are too quick for us. We could no more follow them up than we could turn a somersault on the tight rope. In both cases our position must he that of admiring spectators. But we can look on and applaud.

We are quite willing to accept the existence of the Stafford Ministry as an important fact with certain favournble bearings upon the Government of the country. But all.our conviction of the ability and versatility which it embraces, will not allow us to regard it otherwise than in the attitude of a watchful but not factious opponent. Its tendencies, too much in the direction of meddling with the natives and tampering with our land fund, are not to be regarded without suspicion. The now arrangement may possibly be judicious, by which the conduct of Native Affairs is put into the hands of the Secretary. But it is open to an abuse which we hopo to see firmly resisted. The expenses incurred for native purposes, which have hitherto been laid before the Assembly and the country as distinct items of asoparatedepnrtmoiit may become so mixed up with the other details of colonial management as to escape notic*!, or at best to be eliminated with considerable difficulty. Under cover of this manconvro, any amount of costly experiments may be indulged in to suit tho humour ot politicians who love to fish in the troubled waters of Maoridom. It is a stop too, wo fear, which intends to prevent the gradual localization of the expences of native affairs, by making them a portion of the fixed charges of the Government.

Wore we to cast about for some ground of satisfaction at the accession of the present Ministry, we should find it not in the Ministry itself, but in the

opposition which it is contributing so largely to develope. For the first time for several years, there are the elements of a great constitutional party to be found on the benches of the opposition. Our congratulations upon the formation of the present Government would, unlike those of the Press, be based not so much upon the men whom it lias absorbed as upon those it has loft out. Auckland is virtually unreprescntedontheGovernmentbenches. Otago has not ono member there. Canterbury has only Mr. John Hall. Mr, Hall fills the last political office of the Ministry; and is besides the representative of no party either in Canterbury or in the Assembly. "Wo do not pretend to say on which side of the House Mr. FitzGcrald will sit. Assuredly we do not dream of including him in the ranks of a consistent opposition. It is not likely that the members of Otago or of Auckland would, either recognise his leadership or accept his support. He must stand alone, the Eoebuck, the Bernal Osborne or the Horsmau of the Assembly. It is not likely that the business of the session will proceed much further without affording the Government an opportunity of proving its strength and of feeling also the weight of the opposition. The country will not consent to be always governed by Ministries who come in at the end of the session, and whose best title to place is that their predecessors were turned out.

We believe that the present Ministry will meet with no factious opposition ; but we trust they will be taught to recognise that the principles of localised expenditure for native affairs, and the conservation to the Provinces of their Land Funds and their due proportion of the Customs Eevenue, are gradually securing the support of a majority of the House, and of the country.