TWO GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 3 January 1891, Page 2

TWO GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

■» Pabt of the Government policy at tha pretime is to play their cards so that any waverers there may bo among the new members may be brought over to their side. This is termed by some of our contemporaries the art of " nobbling." We have become so accustomed to the specious promises of Sir Harry Atkinson that nothing he can say or do will m the least surprise us, even though it agaia camo to barefaced buying votes as he did with the Auckland rats some years ago. At present the work is going on behind the scenes, and all that we m front are allowed to know is the information which flitters through the Press Association. Captain Russell we are told will go on with hia Defence Scheme, and the Government will again introduce their Bankruptcy Bill. It is no secret that throughout the colony there is great dissatisfaction with the present volunteer system, and we notice that m Christchurch a very large number of resignations are taking place. The majority q£ the mem* bers .m one of the garison corps are resigning, and the medical officers are all contemplating the same step, and are only waiting to see what the new Parliament will do. If we are to judge by Captain Russell's programme, he will not improve matters much. His ideas are based on the report of Major j General Edwards, and are really directed towards a partially paid force m the four large centres. It is a pity for the defence force of this colony that a practical volun. teer cannot for once be placed m charge of the Department. There are scores of superanuated officers who want clearing out, especially those who are nearest to the headquarters, and if they were replaced by officers like Col. Pitt, Major Webb, Captain Coleman, men who know the needs of volunteers and understand their system, more good would be done than by all the theoretical improvements made m any number of Acts of Parliament. We are afraid that even if the present Government go out, and a Ballanee administration is formed, jihat there will not be any improvement, as we notice that Mr Ballance has not got over "his idea ,of waiting for a magazine rifle m place of Buying Martini-Henrys. It matters not, apparently, to him that his experiment with the Kemingtou-Lee was a dismal failure, and a waste of money, he has a theory, and to uphold that theory he would cojapsl jibe Volunteers to use an antiquated weapon, and locally made ammunition till a new rifle is forthcoming, oven though the Martini-Henry is tho one srhjch the Imperial Government is still arming its men with. Captain Sommerville, of the N.Z. Eifle- Association, has discussed the : question fully m hit JJallaijco's own paper, and he shows that " five years have passed away since we were told that the Martini was obsolete, to-day we find it issued to English troops m preference to the Magazine rifle, and still the N.Z. Volunteers cairy the old gas pipe, the Snider." The vol^ntepra are getting weary, of waiting, and no wonder, but w$ £3.9 no chance of either Captain Russell or Mr Balance, if ; the latter adheres to his present lines, doing anything practical to assist them. With respect to the toankrnptcy measure pro" mised it is the outcome of many suggestions made by the Chambers of Commerce throughout the Colony, and we believe also

by judges. The only credit due to the Government m the matter is that of having the measure drafted. It is urgently required, and if it will lessen the ease with which the whitewashing process is now carried out, it matters not by whom it is introduced. We await now further indications of a policy by the Ministry,