The Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1891. THE 1891 SESSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1891, Page 2

The Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1891. THE 1891 SESSION.

All over the colony surmises are being scattered broadcast as to what the programme of the Atkinson party will be when Parliament meets on the 23rd of this month. We can hardly suppose that the present Government will have the effrontery to attempt to hold on to office, and though there is talk of a reconstruction we do not anticipate anything of the sort being tried till the Opposition is given a chance to form a Ministry and formulate a policy. The first thing that will attract attention will be the Speakership, and right here we expect to see a tug of war, owing to the unfortunate defeat of Sir Maurice O'Rorke. It is one of the curses of party Government that the best men are not always selected for posts of honor, friendship being paramount often to fitness. In the present instance there is no one fit to step into the shoes of Sir Maurice, but there are several candidates, and of these, candour compels us to admit the best are on the side of the Government. Mr Rolleston, Mr Bryce or Major Hamlin would be superior to Major Steward, the only eligible Opposition candidate, and it is not going too far to say that had Mr Sey. niour been elected he would have been better than any of them, nor do we think we are making too free with a semi-public secret when we say that it was an understood thing between Mr Seymour and the Ministry that if the Speaker was rejected at Manakau he had the reversion, and that m any case he would probably have been selected m preference to Major Hamlin as Chairman of Committees. For his sake we are sorry he has lost the opportunity of securing these emoluments, though as it wouidhave led to the practical disfranchisement of the Wairau electorate we cannot be expected to view the loss with other than feelings of equanimity. But we are not disposed m the present state of affairs to blame the Opposition for putting up a candidate, as the conduct of the Government has been shameful, and their hunger for office, and desire to provide for their friends, no matter what the country may think, such as to throw discredit on any motives they may assume m proposing a member as Speaker. After the Speakership comes the election of a Chairman of Committees, and if not successful m securing the first post, we believe Major Steward, who has often relieved Major Hamlin, will get the second. After this the deluge. If the Ministry resign, who is to be sent for ? To our minds the Leader of the Opposition is the only one m the running, though it would only be on a par if Sir Harry recommended Mr Mitchelson, Captain Russell, or Mr Bryce, m order to secure a continuance m power of the "continuous Ministry." We think, however, that Mr Ballance will be given the trial the strength of his party entitles him to, and if he can form a Government, then will coma the question of how long he is to be allowed to bring down his policy. In the face of past history, of sessions dragged along when Governments have been formed at a moment's notice, and had to carry out the government of the Colony without time for preparation, it would be economy t<? give the new Ministry at least three months, say till April, and by that time with hard work they might be expected to have arrived &t some idea of the condition of the country, and the policy which m their opinion is needed to put things right. Of this we may be sure, that if the Atkinson party attempt by any double- shuffling to treat the Opposition unfairly, aad refuse them a fair chance, the next Parliament wjll witness such a waste of time as has not yet been experienced even m the last few sessions, As .^o the Legislative Council appointments, we have already expressed the opinion, from which we see no reason to change, that it is one of the perquisites of office, and that if the Tories m the Upper House are found obstructive, a few xa.QXfi " peers " may be created.