SHALLOW. TACTICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 915, 13 September 1889, Page 16

SHALLOW. TACTICS.

The leader of the Oppoiifcion has given notice of an amendment upon going into

Committee of Supply, to the pffecfc that an immediate dissolution of Parliament is desirable. This may be regarded from t\yo points of view, either qs a final Opposition splash at the fag end of the session, or as a parting kick to the Ministry. B.ut we cannot detect any deop-seated object in if, unless the Opposition wishes to, impress the country with a belief that ifc knows better than the Ministry what is good for the country, and therefore would, as soon as possible, terminate the existence of a Parliament the chief function of which appears to be to resolve itself into a state of sixes and sevens. There is no doubt about the Opposition being in that condition, and if by going to the country two really well-defined parties, properly chieftained, were likely to be evolved out of the chaos of a general election, we would say dissolve ancf go, and the sooner the better. But, to, our mind, there is not the slightest probability of this, There is not-' available material in the country out of whioh to construct such a desirable political force. Politics have degenerated into very much of a trade in New Zealand, and if tbe country were appealed to next week ifc would return a House inwh : ch the lerven, now working, would still prevail. About the average proportion of new members, s?.y one-third, would come in, and thus, out of 71, 50 would be “old hands ” with their ancient prejudices thick upon them. We do not believe that a new Parliament wou’d be a bit better or a bit worse than this one, unless another master mind, capable of leading 'what is now the Opposition, were retained by tbe electors. Of course there are such in the Colony,and one might be secured, and it would be anffimnixed. blessing-if ifc >sd for ; very store indeed is the • 1 heed); of. a foeman worthy of’tfie steel df- tfle premier, one with 'some idea of sound organisation and of attack and defence. But with a mere chance of this it ?s not worth while troubling the countiy with a general election one minute sooner than can be avoided. The country wants rest, and not to be politically harried during the next twelvemonth. The election trouble will be upon us quite soon enough in the ordinary course of events, and we therefore hope the Government will whip up properly and; put- '-the threatened amendment to the rout and stave off -another vexatious* and’ utterly useless debate,'if possible. ■ ■ s > •' '