New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4123, 8 June 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1874.

After a general election a trial of strength follows as a matter of course. Both parties are desirous of ascertaining their strength, and there is always a chance for the '-'outs." Tho Victorian Parliament hasbeenundergoingthc ordeal, but though the journals of the Opposition claimed a majority for the anti-Ministerialists when the full results of the election were known, and were particularly jubilant after the returns of the first and second batches came in—for the constituencies of that Colony are grouped in throe, which vote at intervals spread over fivo or six wooks—the progress of the debateindicated a Ministerial triumph. The ground on which tho amendment was based was indeed a very narrow one. Tho chief card Mr. Francis placed before tho country was tho reform of the Constitution, so as to lessen the power of tho Legislative Council to sometimes interrupt the 3 legislation of tho Assembly. Tho speech delivered by Sir Georgo Bowen on the assembly of tho two Houses rominded Parliament of the fact, and stated that as his advisors regarded the "response to the appeal" as "unequivocal,"-the Ministry would make it " their first duty to submit a measure dealing with this grave and important subject." But the speech went on to say that though his Excellency's advisers were " fully aware of the necessity for a revision of tho taxation of the country, with a _ view _ to secure a more equitable distribution of tho public burdens," they wero of opinion that such a comprehensive moaaure as would bo necessary to accomplish that object could not bo satisfactorily dealt with until tho question of constitutional reform was disposed of. Tho Opposition demurred to that proposition, and an amendment, directed against tho last paragraph of that portion of tho Address was moved by Mr. J. M. Grant, who was Minister of Lands in the cabinet of Sir Jamos M'Culloch, and in that of Sir C. G. Duffy. It was seconded—unfortunately for tho Free Trado party ' —by Mr. G. P. Smith, a barrister, whoso

personal unpopularity will lose not a few votos to the party lie supports; but it received the adhesion of Sir James M'Oiil'.och, who has now re-entered public life, and of Mr. Robert Murray Smith, one of the most consistent Free Traders in the Parliament of Victoria. . The Ministryprofessod to regard the amendment as a mere pretext to give the Opposition an opportunity of ousting tlio Government by sheer force of numbers, presuming tho "outs" to lmvo a majority. It was, said Mr. Francis, "drawing a herring across the trail." Ho was probably justified in so designating Mr. Grant's amendment, because that hon. member did not base it upon tlio state of trade or the condition of the people. lie did not venture upon the uncertain ground of Free Trade versus Protection, but upon the more specious ple.i that as the power of dealing with the finances of tho Colony was in tho Assembly alone, to say that it could not or should not roviso tho taxation of the country because it was about to bo asked to consider a measure for tho reform of tho Council was, in effect, an abandonment of ono of the greatest privileges of tho Assembly. That argument is certainly a hollow one, and can only have been put forward, in tho peculiar circumstances in which tho Opposition arc placed, for tho purposo of securing votos. With Mr. Grant sits Mr. Graham Berry, at ono time a member of the Duffy Cabinet, and a colleague of the mover of tho motion. Ho is the leader of the Protectionist party, and if the amendment had been put forward in tho interests of the Free Trado'party it would not have had the support of tho Protectionists in the House ; while Mr. Murray Smith, speaking for the Freo Traders, stated distinctly that he would not be drawn into helping to vote in another Protectionist Ministry. If the Treasury benches were to bo successfully attacked, therefore, it was necessary that the amendment should be ono which both Protectionists and Free Traders could support, leaving tho main-battle to be fought when a Grant-McCulloch Cabinet should be created. Yet there appears to be good grounds on which a revision of the tariff might be asked by both parties in the State. The industrial condition of that Colony does not appear to be in a satisfactory condition. AVelayno stressona statement that has recently been mado that there are no loss than four thousand names on the reserved list of the Minister of Railways, of persons who are desirous of being employed in that department. New arrivals, who bring lotters of introduction to mombors of Parliament, or to leading supporters of sitting members, are usually taken to the Railway or the Post Office Departments. After the Ministers have been interviewed, tlio name is placed on tlio list, and tho applicant departs, hopeful of an early appointment, probably finds something else to do, and never hears more of his application. Miners who have been unsuccessful, and tradesmen who would like an easy berth, apply for appointments as guards, or porters, or postmen ; and fathers with sons to provide for and no money to start them out in life with, look to these channels for an answer to the old question, "What shall we do with our boys?" Thus the official lists of applicants for public employment go on swelling from year to year, and afford no proper test of tho condition of the labour market. Much more serious evidence, however, has been given by the officials of tho Geelong factories, Avho have authorised the local journals to state that they are overwhelmed with applications for employment, and by young women especially, who are so urgent to find work to do that they would almost give their labour for nothing. There is something wrong where such a state of things exists, and it cannot bo too early to inquire whether the Protectionist policy which Victoria has now for some years followed is chargeable with this result or no. The other topics dealt with in Sir George Bowen'a Speech indicate that as tho opportunity is permitted to the Francis Ministry to introduce their measures, they will endeavour to give to tho work of tlie new Parliament a practical character. In that respect, indeed, their programme is a model one. They state that the lately-passed Education Act, which renders instruction compulsory, has worked successfully, and so as to induce tho department to continue tho multiplication of schools ; they congratulate Victoria on the rapid extension of the railway system; the incroaso of water supply all over the colony ; and the completion of the Alfred graving dock, which they regard as one of the " finest works of tho kind in the world." They appear to bo quito as anxious for the expansion of their railway system, moreover, as wo aro in Now Zealand for tho extension of ours, and they state that the trial surveys of all tho lines suggested by Parliament aro in progress. The measures they promise to submit to Parliament as soon as tho Bill to amend the Constitution Act is disposed of, deal with tho following subjects : The consolidation of the laws relating to local self-government, and tho making of ample provision for the granting of subsidies to local bodies; to enable the Government to give bettor titles to settlors on or selectors of land near the goldfields, and on land supposed to be auriferous —a moasuro which must form part of or be accompanied by a Bill to dispose onco for all of tho long-vexod question of mining on private property ; to facilitate settlement on tho public lands, and to increase tho area that a selector may take up to the amount at which the maximum stood beforo tho last Amending Land Act was passed ; to re-adjust tho assessment on stock; to reform tho representative system, and amend the law relating to elections ; to establish a Marino Board ; and to amend the laws relating to tho sale of wines, bos r, and spirits ; tho Mining Companies Act, the Public Service Act, the inspection of machinery and of marine stores, tho prosecution of persons bringing stolon property into Victoria from other British possessions, &c. Somo good work has undoubtedly been cut out for the legislators of Victoria, and the result of the voto on the amendment to tho Address will leave Mr. Francis and his colleagues tho opportunity of carrying out tho'.r propositions.