AN OPPOSITION PROGRAMME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 387, 12 July 1879, Page 12

AN OPPOSITION PROGRAMME.

(From the New Zealand Times, July 10.) To-day Parliament will be opened. The ceremony is likely to be a very quiet one, and practically nothing will be done until Tuesday next. Nevertheless, the Government programme will probably leak out before that date, and therefore we may be allowed once more to point out that if an Opposition programme were given there would probably be but little difference between the two. A day or two ago we mentioned that the Hon. Messrs. Whitakek, J. Hall, and G. McLean", were the most likely to take a leading part in any political struggle which might occur, and we then mentioned, as one of their doughtiest champions, Mr. Okmond. It so happens that the three members of the Lower House who we have indicated, have, so to say, already sketched out a series of measures, many of which are often claimed by the Democratic party. Inasmuch as some of our Southern contemporaries have recently asserted that the Opposition had no political principles or programme round which to rally their adherents, we propose to indicate those which have already been brought before the public by the members of the party which we support.

The "piece de resistance" of the Government last session was the Electoral Bill. It was afterwards proved that this great liberal measure was only brought forward as a cloak to introduce dual Maori voting, and thereby to swanrp the voting power of the Europeans in the North Island in the event of a dissolution ; but it should be remembered that at the same time the Hon. Mr. Wjtitakbe brought in a far more liberal Electoral 13ill, and although it was rejected, an opinion was general that by the amendment of one or two clauses relating to the system of voting, the latter measure would have proved far more satisfactory than the one which was ultimately abandoned by its promoters. Mr. Wihtaker, had introduced a modification of Hake's systsm, but we believe we are correct in asserting that he expressed himself willing to accept Hare's system pure and simple if a majority of the House wished it. The results of any such innovation are very difficult to foresee, but we believe that a large majority of the House would prefer to try this plan rather than agree to the proposed representation by population alone, which is advocated by the extreme Democratic party. If Mr. Whitakek did not again bring forward a Bill, Mr. would be very likely to do so. In his speech to his constituents, informed his hearers that if the Government failed to move in the matter, " it was his intention to " bring in a Bill conferring the franchise " for a residential qualification, and " another Bill, if necessary, for a .small " increase in the direct representation of " the natives, who would not be permitted " to vote for European candidates unless " they paid rates." Mr. Ormonb's only fault has been said to be that he is too much of a party man, and he may therefore be accepted as a fair exponent of the views of his party. It can certainly not be said that the measures which he advocated were not thoroughly liberal. In regard to the great question of further taxation he declared himself plainly in favor of an income and property tax, and strongly opposed to a land tax alone, as an unjust measure, intended to burst up large estates, and to victimise one class only i for the benefit of the rest of the commu-

nity. Mr. Okmond also touched upon the subject of local self-government, which is admitted to be, as Mr. Macandreav lately said, "in rather a mess." Some counties are rolling in riches, others are languishing for want of funds, and in order to remedy this evil Mr. Ormond proposes that they should " abolish subsidies, and that " the local bodies should be provided with " increased rating powers, by which they " could rate land, so that it should con- " tribute its fair share to works by " which it benefited." These are all liberal proposals, and, if we are right in assuming that Mr. Okmono has only expressed the opinions of his party, the Opposition programme would be somewhat extensive, if the Hon. J. Hall (whose only fault is that he knocks himself up with hard work) were to join the Ministry, and to lead in the Upper House, it is morally certain that he would introduce a much needed measure for the management of hospitals and charitable institutions. It will be remembered that during the past session he brought down a series of resolutions on the subject, which were favorably received at the time. Upon the assurance of the Government that they would bring in a Bill to deal with the subject, he agreed to withdraw his proposals. We recently reviewed the measure which has been drafted during the recess, but we considered that a far more comprehensive Act woiild be required to put this great question at rest. Mr. Hall is perhaps better able than any other man in either House to prepare a large-minded, carefully thought-out Bill, and we should rejoice to find that he had undertaken the arduous duty. The Hon. G. McLean said but little about the measures which he would advocate, and played the part of the cautious critic admirably. Upon one point, however, he was perfectly plain-spoken, and said : " We have at present a large pub- " lie debt, and we must increase it " whether we like or not." And again, in another place, he stated : "If I were " Treasurer, I would say : The finances " of the country are in such a state that " I must have more revenue, and there- " fore I will tax land or anything else " that I can get hold of." Upon theso two points raised by Mr. McLean almost every member of the House who has spoken during the recess has been unanimous.

In referring to the political principles of the Opposition we have chosen the public utterances of prominent men in order to justify the opinion we have often expressed that the distinctions between parties in New Zealand are few and illdefined, and also because we desired to refute the statement that the Opposition had no political programme. A £3,000,000 loan, a redistribution of seats and an Electoral Bill, measures for amending the Maori representation, and the laws relating to local self-government, as well as for the re-adjustment of taxation, and for the distribution of charitable aid, are all of them distinctly favored by the Opposition. Even then we have by no means exhausted the list, which is however quite long enough. The only important measures of reform which can be said to be distinctly repudiated by a majority of the so-called Conservative party, are—a graduated land tax, an elective Upper House, an elective Governor, and representation by population alone. The Democratic party are entitled to claim these measures as their own, and the Opposition will never dispute the right of ownership.

'feo Mr. Ballance has resigned (says the Christchurch Press), having been previously ordered out of the room by his chief, and a messenger sent for to aid in his expulsion. Mr. Ballance never having been a leading man in any sense of the tprm, it is unnecessary to devote a leading article to him or the subject of his disappearance into the waste paper basket of New Zealand politics. As a politician he was a self-seeking and impudent adventurer. As a political ally he was a traitor, inasmuch as he stands convicted of having been in Major Atkinson's confidence up to the very day when a motion of want of confidence in the Atkinson Government was decided upon, Mr. Ballance knowing at the same time that he was pledged to vote for the motion. As a Colonial Treasurer he was a charlatan, not even of the first magnitude. In viewing Mr. Ballance's political demise one is reminded of the inquiry of old Siward, in " Macbeth," on hearing of the death of his son—- " Had he his hurts before ?" " Ay, on the front." " Why, then God's soldier be he ! Had I as many sons as I have hairs, I would not wish them to a fairer death : And so his knell is knoll'd." Mr. Ballance's exit is of an opposite description since he was kicked out into the cold by the leader, to follow whom he had deserted his acknowledged and trusting chief. Zadkiei's Astrological Almanac, for 1879, published last year predicts that at 1.30 p.m., •January 22, 1879, " difficulties would come on the English Government at the Cape through hostile acts perpetrated by discontented tribes." This was a good hit, for it was the day and hour of the Isandula disaster. Another prediction was that in Juue several Hoyal personages would suffer from sunstroke and other strokes. Certainly Zadkiel can score one in the person of the Prince Imperial of Erance.