THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1879.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5499, 2 July 1879, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1879.

There are a number of very interesting political questions opened up for discussion by the revelations of tho last two days from Wellington, and every incident of our future to some extent depends upon how these problems are solved. Can the general business of the country be conducted properly while the Cabinet is a volcano full of burning material, and breaking forth every now and then into explosions ? To all appearance, we are on the eve of a native outbreak, which will demand the utmost care and skill to deal with. We shall have at once to go to the London market for a loan, but can hardly expect to be successful in our negotiations, if it is found at home that, politically, we are in a state o ferment. To obtain a loan on favourable terms we must be able to shew that we have done well with the money we have had ; that w'e have devoted it to remunerative purposes ; and we must, by our staid position, give some assurance that what we are to obtain will be well spent. We are not likely to get the money on reasonable terms if it appearß probable that it. will be swallowed up by a Maori war, or that it will be squandered and wasted, in the exigencies of changing and contending political parties. Various important political questions also press for settlement, but are not likely to receive attention while the Ministry is in its present state. Calm consideration and united action must be obtained, and those, it is evident, are not to be had from the Cabinet.

As yet, the public doe 3 not know enough, of the circumstances to form an opinion as to whether the Premier or the Colonial Treasurer was in the wrong in the feeling which has grown up between them,and'whichculminatedin the "scene" the history of which the public perused with painful feelings yesterday. The accounts hitherto published bear the impression of having been written by the friends of Mr. Ballance, and possibly the complexion put upon it is somewhat unduly favourable to the Treasurer. The first matter which arises for consideration is—How is a Premier entitled to treat the re3t of the Cabinet 1 It will be found that in this, as in most cases of quarrel, there are faults on both sides ; and if Mr. Ballance can shew that the Premier has treated him with scant courtesy, and against all the customs which have hitherto ruled the relations between colleagues of the same Cabinet, Sir George Grey will be able to exhibit a per contra, in shewing that Mr. Ballance did what he had no right to do behind the Premier's back, and so quite as conspicuously failed in his duty. This may not matter a great deal to the country, which will say : If the Premier and Treasurer cannot behave themselves, they had better both go, " and never more be officers of mine." It is well known that when the surveyors were put oil' the Waimate Plain 3, a very fierce article appeared in a Wellington paper, supposed to be under the influence of Mr. Ballance, in which the Premier was accused of being a "coward" in fleeing from his post at the hour of danger. This is the worst insult that can be offered to any man, and was not likely to be forgotten by Sir George Grey, who is supposed not to be plentifully endowed with the quality of forgiveness. Then, again, the Ministers at the seat of Government I took it upon themselves, without con- | suiting the Premier, or informing him, to advertise a part of the Waimate Plains for sale, on a certain day, and to send the advertisement throughout the Australasian colonies. The Premier could have been reached by telegram, but of this important resolution he was not informed at all, and only learned of it from seeing the advertisement in the newspapers. It looked as if all this was done designedly, and to " chisel" the Premier, whose views were pretty well known to his colleagues. Even after the Premier got to Wellington, Mr. Ballance, without saying a word to him, sent off an important telegram to the Waste Lands Board of Taranaki, so as to hurry on the sale. This Mr. Ballance did in llie forenoon, and then came to bid Sir George Grey good-bye, as he was going up to Wanganui and the West Coast with Mr. Macandrew. When the Premier saw that telegram in the newspapers he was not by any means in an amiable frame of mind, and he immediately sent a telegram to Mr. Ballance, telling him to come back to Wellington and explain his conduct. Mr. Ballance replied that if Sir Gaorge was determined to withdraw the land from sale, so be it, but that he did not see any necessity of interrupting his journey and returning to Wellington. Thereupon, the Premier sent another telegram, ordering Mr. Ballance to return, or requiring him to return. This mandate Mr. Ballance obeyed, in very bad humour, and when he reached Wellington, he received, as may easily be supposed, a proper "dressing-down" from the Premier. The faults on

the other side have also been freely spoken of. As all know, the Prime Minister is the head of the Go vernment, and, if he should choose to retire, the whole Cabinet would retire with him. He can veto anything proposed in the Cabinet, and if any member disagrees, or feels aggrieved at any act done, his remedy is to retire. But, on the other hand, if the action of any member of the Cabinet is such as to be subversive of the policy of the Premier, he may call upon the offendinc; member to resign his seat. This is the dignified and proper style of procedure. It is very absurd, howerer, for the Premier to attempt to carry on the business by sending for Ministers separately, and not to call meetings of the Cabinet to consult on all important points. All nndue assumption of power on the part of the Premier is a mistake. He can only hope to get the best men in the House to act with him if they are allowed considerable liberty of action, and they will even expect that the Premier should occasionally give way to them. Besides, to have one supreme will in a Cabinet must destroy the representative character which a Ministry should always hold with the House. There have been many secessions from Cabinets because of differences on important public questions, and Buch occurrences can be understood, and the public can give credit and praise to both parties. But when a Minister resigns because he and the Premier squabble, the public will probably condemn both. Such language as the Premieris reported to have used—such as that Mr. Ballance " was not to talk to him, but to do as he was told," followed by a command to "leave the room," is, of course, unendurable, and inexcusable, if Mr. Ballance was, as is represented, quite calm and respectful in hia language. And, if both have been to blame for their conduct, and the language they have used, then the country will have to find other men to carry on its business. "What has occurred, and what seems imminent, affects vary materially the question as to whether the Ministry are entitled to a dissolution ; but that point we need not discuss to-day. _