The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5806, 4 October 1879, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

The defeat of the Government last night in the House of Representatives shows that Government by party is not yet established in New Zealand. Were it otherwise, it would have been impossible for the Opposition to have seized the policy of their opponents, in order, to use it as a lever for ousting them from office. The party opposed to Sir George Grey has resisted him from the first day on which he entered Parliament. When early in his Parliamentary career he put forward the principles which have since become the great questions of the day, he was derided, abused, and thwarted in every possible way. He persevered until, through good repute and evil repute, he advanced the cause he had at heart to the front rank. His* enemies then discovered that his cause was their cause. They seized his policy, and declared that for years circumstances of an unfortunate character which they did not specify, and for months Sir George Grey himself, had prevented them from giving the country the benefit of that policy. Having failed as Conservatives to keep Sir George Grey from power, they endeavoured as newly-discovered Liberals to oust him from office. Their task was not easy, because Sir George Grey had created a party. It seemed at one time as if that party was sufficiently well organised, and sufficiently strong to carry out its objects under its natural chief. Its supporters hoped in fact that the era of Government by party had begun. The division of last night shows that they were mistaken, but not much mistaken. The majority of the Opposition was small enough to encourage hopes of better results before long. In the meantime it must be accepted that some who joined the Liberal party were not animated by the true party spirit. The unfortunate representative of this class is Mr Masters. Had he been true to his election pledges, the division would have resulted in a tie. Had others done their duty to their constituents, the majority would have been with the Government. The electorates, it is evident from the division lists, have declared for the Government of Sir George Grey. The majority in the House of Representatives has declared against the wish of the electorates.

- The victory of the Opposition will test the strength and sincerity of the party which acknowledges the Hon J. Hall as leader. The party went to the

country with a majority of frmvt. They have returned with a two, but the mere fact that they if ° £ a majority at all is an weakness; for there are men co posing that majority who will beta?’ their new party, as they have betravl? the party which they were sent to S The bond of union was not a prinofol nor a set of principles, it Waa *L e ’ desire to oust the Government, ft 6 that the Government has been the bond is broken. The fact tb t attempts were made to form a coaliti Ministry proves, if any proof were r? quired, that the party of Mr Hall fa 6 ' nothing to stand firm upon. Tu* selection of a Ministry from its rank° cannot tend to consolidate its natural incohesion. If the party were sincere in its support of the Liberal principles it has announced, it would have a bond of union and a hope of life. It Would at once take steps to throw its principles into shape, and to get them placed on the Statute Book. In this they would have the support of the whole House But in the face of its leader’s speech it is impossible to believe in the party’s sincere adhesion to Liberal princiclL When Mr Hall spoke of the Liberal measures of the Government as if they were second in importance to the administration of the present laws, be evidently represented the majority 0 f his party. The proper sequel to that speech is postponement of the Liberal measures, at least till the session of 1880. But this cannot be pleasing to the Liberals, who, separating the Liberal chief from the Liberal party, exhibited the unwise independence which gave the Conservatives the majority. Postponement ought to drive them back repentant into the bosom of their own party. In view of this pressing danger the Conservatives must be sincere, and push through the policy they have promised. If they do so they will afford the unjust spectacle of men reaping the fruits of the energetic toil, fearless energy, and uncommon ability of others. If they are forced into this position it will be a great triumph for the Liberal party. The Liberal party should be true to itself iu this hour of trial. Its duty is to offer no opposition to the principles of Liberalism wherever they come from. The principles promised are the means to an end, as their leader has always told them. Their first object should be to get the means properly placed in the hands of the people through the Statute Book. When that is done, the ground will be clear for future action. The measures promised are the first fruits of Liberalism. The abundance of the harvest will, after these are gathered, still remain to be reaped. It is improbable that the Conservatives will show any desire to reap that harvest. Should the desire he forced on them, as in the case of the first fruits, it is improbable that the power will remain in their hands for giving it effect. They have, in their attacks on the Government of Sir George Grey, set up a standard of judgment so high that no Government can be tried by it and live. But they will have more against them than an impossible standard of criticism. One necessary condition of their existence as a Ministry must be, considering the tide of popular feeling setting in from one end of the Colony to the other, a vigorous prosecution, of the development of the Liberal programme, the securing of the ends for which they are about to be compelled—if the Liberal party is true to itself—to provide the means. But as this condition involves a constant succession of ideas borrowed from the enemy, it can hardly be considered a guarantee for the continuance of the Conservatives in power. . The Liberals of Hew Zealand must remember that, though the struggle they have entered npon is arduous, and promises, like all such struggles to he long, the ultimate triumph of their cause is, if kept steadily and uncompromisingly iu view, certain.