The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 778, 9 October 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WEDN ESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.

The dust raised by the Opposition but a few hours ago has already been dispelled, and it is now as clear as noonday that the forlorn hope that they would be able to turn a simple and unimportant occurrence into a grave constitutional mistake, was misplaced. That which the Opposition took' credit to themselves for having accomplished, and about which they made so much fuss, was brought about by some of the warmest supporters of the Government ; and was, after all, one of those everyday occurrences in the political world that need surprise no man. But the Opposition tried to persuade themselves and the House that they had defeated the Government and that the Government was at their mercy. With hypocritical leniency and mock charitableness for all the Government's supposed weaknesses. they have since the commencement of the session endeavored to put the Government oil' their guard, as is now clear, for the purpose of stabbing them in the dark when they thought they had tripped. The shafts of sarcasm were tired freely during the discussion on the Beer Tax Bill, by men who were thought incapable of either indulging in or appreciating joking, at what Oppositionists wanted people to believe they thought was the helpless form of the Government. Mr, Geokoe M'Lk.sn wished to assist the Ministry, and the Opposition almost to a man adyiced the Government to bring the session to a speedy close in order that they might during the recess mature a policy that woulcfbe acceptable to the House. Notwithstanding the shortcomings of the Government, in their large hearteduess, the Opposition were unwilling to take advantage of their powerful organisation to rout them. They had been nonentities but they were entities now, and they would give the Government another chance of redeeming their lost character. Mr. Bowen \arged that as the Beer Tax Bill and Joint Stock Companies Tax Bill were lost, the Government should arrest the progress of other Bills—one of which is the Land Tax Bill—in the Upper House, and bring the session speedily to a close. How disingenuous of s£i\ Bowen. He lias a decided antipathy to the Land Tax Bill, and opposed it strenuously u; the House of Representatives. Other Canterbury members opposed it because it would compel the wealthy runholder* .of that Provincial District, in whom they were intinute-y interested, to accept a share of the burdens of the Colony ; but we hope that no one will be co ungenerous as to think that Mr. Bo* kn zoy<rA\t its withdrawal for similar reasons. The Opposition would not insist upon the Government resigning or dissolving—they would not kill the prostrate form outright : 'out [ endeavour to get it on to its feet and, with ' the consideration, of a policeman to an intoxicated man, see whether it could stand. These wero the feeling.^and sayI ings of the Opposition aj they ...iewc-d the situation on Friday ?}ight last ; and, :\3 they, with liearis so full, -f -vaatude at the godsend which has occurred, had already began to think of what theft policy should be now that another chance of an innings was dawning upon them, and had mentally placed the other in the Premiers seat oh account of hi< clever oiler to '-'assist ilia Ministry," up jumped the Government tluU tJicy thought was ''sick even unto death." Can anyone imagine the shock to the nervous sensibilities of the Opposition occasioned by such a sudden resurrection of what was abandoned by the in as almost dead, and the boots of which had alreaey been mentally appropriated / Poiitiea! ascendancy, which seemed to have lain dormant, was as suddenly reversed. IMr. .I.CHN.jiON but a short while ago had refused to withdraw his motion ■" That ' The Beer Tax Bill ' be read that day six months." Now it is the Native Ministers turn to refuse to allow it to be withdrawn at L'.'r. ; Johnston's request. Here was an op- j portunity of proving the Opposition's weakness not to be lost sight of. The motion was put iind lost, and the Government had so"far recovered its equilibrium, that had it chosen ; io do so, it might, without doubt, have .carried the second reading of the Beer Tax: Bill by a j respectable majority. Not that we thinic j that such a course would have been politic ; on the .contrary, we approve of the abandonment of the measure, more especially as it will not be productive of any financial embarrassment to tiio Colonial Treasurer, who proposes to make itp the deficiency by appropriating the amount of ; 144.000 set down in iho Estimates for I harbor defence purposes, and transferring the amount from harbor defence purposes to the Public Works Estimates. This will J |be a perfectly satisfactory coupe. The j political position now is that the important j ! measures which have been introduced into I Parliament by the Government, with a view of doing away with that class legislation which was the curse of the late Government, and has hitherto been the bane of the Colon}', will pass into law. In retaining their th.3 Government have acted iu accordance with English precedent—a fact which wil! draw the sting from the taunts at their enemies. When the Government have got through the session, if they wish to prove whom they serve, they can then appeal to the country. Until then it is j their duty to remain at their posts.