New Zealand Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4189, 24 August 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1874.

It is difficult to understand the policy of the hon. member for the Hutt in proposing to move, this afternoon, the resolutions of which he has given notice. No doubt this remark applies generally to his movements ; but we are speaking of this especial matter as though wo looked at it from what might reasonably be supposed to be his point of view. There is the hypothesis that the great speech which was to have been delivered during the debate last week is eating its way, like a treacherous acid, to his very vitals, but this seems scarcely sufficient. We know, of course, that he is not actuated by any good feeling towards the Government, but then we fail to discern what he can hope to obtain by his motion. It may be in accordance with a long line of precedents that he has industriously laid down, but it is nothing more. The hon. member, in his speeches, has been in the habit of piling hyperbole upon hyperbole, metaphor upon metaphor, and one big word upon another, till his hearers have been literally “ adumbrated ” with language, and this, they .will expect, will be their fate this afternoon. The speech, it may be assumed, will not be exactly after the similitude of that which miscarried last week, because, as far as the present House of Representatives is concerned, the question of Provincialism in the North Island is settled. If Mr. Fitzherbert has so much confidence in his eloquence, the weight of his arguments, and his powers of persuasion as to imagine that he can cause hon. members to reverse the decision they have arrived at, and ha should succeed in doing this, his party would have grave cause of complaint against a leader who hid himself during the day of battle, whilst the conflict was raging. But he knows very well that such cannot and will not be the case. He knows that he is merely leading a forlorn hope, and, therefore, his speech is but an illustration in;» greater degree of the waste of words which in a minor one always follows his attempts at speech-making. In this respect both hon. members and the public have just cause for complaint. The time that will bo expended might be much better employed. If the session should be brought to a close this week, as the Premier intimated was probable, hon. members have quite sufficient business on their hands to occupy them this day, of a far more important character than discussing a foregone conclusion. We take it that a Parliament which has no confidence in itself, and which knows that it has not the confidence of the country, is quite competent to pass a resolution asking His Excellency to prorogue it, and to send hon. members about their business. Wo may go further than this, and say that such action is very creditable to hon. members. Under such circumstances, as they had shown such a proper appreciation of their own short-comings and unworthiness, they would scarcely be likely to seek re-election. The very fact that the enormity of their offences had been so great that it could not be expiated by the greatest efforts at improvement, but only by the “happy despatch ’’ being admininistered, and that they were conscious of this, would be a bar to their seeking for an opportunity to perhaps again abuse trust and confidence. But what wo fail to discern about all this is, what such an edifying instance of repentance, penance vile, and mortification, has to do with the Ministeral position. Ministers, knowing that their own seats in Parliament are as safe as they possibly can be, and that an appeal to the country would almost assuredly give them a larger majority than they have, could have no reasons of a personal character for inducing some hon. members not to sign their own own political death warrant. We might put the matter in a still stronger manner, and point out that if Mr. Yogel wore to choose to enter the lists against the member for the Hutt, and fight him amongst his own constituency, the hon. member { would very probably cease to be bo th a Superintendent and a member of Parliament. The Premier, we may bo quite certain, when considering the resolutions he carried through the House in so triumphant a manner, would consider the possibility of a dissolution either now or

consequent upon the introduction and discussion of the proposed Bill. At the present time he cannot have the slightest doubt what would be the result of an appeal to the country. But what might be the result of one in a twelve-month’s time is amuchmoreunoertainafl’air. Therefore, even if Mr. Fitzherbert’s motion were carried, he, would gain and Ministers could lose'nothing by it. We are sure that this is not his object, and the question therefore remains, what can it be ? If he simply means to re-open a discussion that has been closed, knowing that there is ho possibility of the decision being reversed, hon. members and the public should alike condemn such action, knowing well as they must that it is but an attempt to raise, for future use, a fallacious party cry. The reason why his motion should not be carried is not far to seek. No person wants a general election oftener than is necessary. A great deal of time and money is necessarily wasted during one, and it is better for New Zealand that the people should 1 proceed with their employments, and the great public works policy of the Government should bo continued, than that these should be interrupted by the turmoil of a general election. One great merit of the Premier’s scheme of bringing down resolutions that should be twelve months before the country before legislative action should be taken respecting them, was that it allowed people abundance of time to thoroughly consider the subject in all its bearings and ramifications, and then come to a carefully thought-6ut’Conclusion. Mr. Pitzherbert would cause electors to at once decide upon this great and important matter before they can have fully deliberated upon it. He must be fully aware that practically the decision Parliament will arriveatrestswith the people. If there should be bitter opposition to the proposed change, shown during the recess throughout the length and breadth of the Colony, it will not take place. But of this, he must be also aware, there is not much prospect—no more than he has of convincing the forty-eight supporters of the Government to become recreants from the policy they have endorsed. This afternoon' he will come before hon. members in quite a new character. That which he has to recommend has been carefully interred with all due obsequies. If ho were going to pronounce a funeral oration over it, we could quite understand the course he pursues. But, instead of this, he intends to exhume a defunct body, and endeavor to persuade Parliament that it is instinct with life and virtue—to hold up its inanimate limbs and pallid features, and endeavor to persuade hon. members who assisted at the funeral that it is replete with vitality. They can only smile at the delusion. .