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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1101, 29 October 1879, Page 2

Tub Hall Ministry b, it appears, safe for a time at any rate. Mr. Macandrew, finding himself deserted by several of his supporters, la3t night withdrew the motion of want of confidence that has for so long been hanging over the heacs of Ministers, and once more peace reigns supreme in the House of Representatives. Trickery, shuffling, and pretty open bartering have done for the Government that which they had not the ability to accomplish in an honorable manner. But though Mr. Hall and his colleagues have scored a victory, it will require all their tact, ingenuity, and care to prevent that victory being eventually turned into a defeat. For a very short time only can such methods as they have adopted to secure a majority in the House prove successful. Mr. Hall and his party have managed to purchase the votes of four Auckland members by means of promises of a free expenditure of public money; but let them be careful how they cany out that bargain. Let them remember that the South is more powerful in the House than the North, and be chary of creating a feeling of jealousy. Let them bear in mind also that both the House and the country are heartily aick of the expenditure of untold sums of public money upon political railways—railways which had nothing to recommend them to favorable consideration, save the fact that their construction|secured a few stray votes—railways that do not pay and will not pay for many years to come. We know that this was a system which Sir Julius Vogel, Sir William Fox, Major Atkinson, Mr. Whitaker, and other members of the party that for years misgoverned the Colony, pursued; but let the remnant* of that party be earful not again to seek to establish the principle that the only object for borrowing money is to secure a long lease of the Traasury Benches. Let them, if they can, show that they are thorougly in earnest in their professions of a desire to promote the welfare of the Colony as a whole, to bring about much needed financial reform, to pass into lawthose liberal measures iij favor of which the country at the late election cjeclared so unanimously, to establish the govern.ment of the country on a surer and firmer basts, and the Parliament and the country will have little occasion to complain that Mr. Hall and hi 3 colleagues have succeeded in outflanking Mr. Macandrew and his party. If Mr, Hall and hi 3 colleagues display an honest desire to fulfil these pledges, the unholy methods they adopted to retain the seats they secured on the Treasury Benches by means of false pretences may be passed over; the end may prove in some measure a palliation of the means adopted to attain it. Hut unless they fulfil their pledges of reform, unless they show a greater desire to promote the welfare of the Colony and les3 anxiety to hold possession of place, pay, and power than they have so far displayed, they cannot hope long to maintain the advantage they hive so far gained ; they cannot expect to be forgivai} for the sins they committed' in their eflorts ta defeat what was unquestionably a majority of the House prior to the defection of Mr. Reader Wood and the trio that followed his noble example of self-sacriiico. If they fail to accomplish all they have promise*!, or at any rate to show a desire to fulfil their promises, they must go the way of all ilesh. Mr. Macandrew has acted wisely in withdrawing his motion of no-confidence. Had he persisted in bringing it forward he would have been defeated, and that defeat would, without doubt, have had a damaging effect upon the Opposition. As it is, that party still remains intact, sn;i with a powerful Opposition it will indeed bs at range if a ! very wholesome check is not placed upon the Ministry. Though out-generaled, the Liberal party is not crushed. For another reason Mr. Macandrew is to be congratulated upon the steps he has taken. Had he persisted in moving his motion, probably a week would have been wasted in discus-ting it, and a large amount of public money would have been expended to no purpose. Time avengi'i* every wrong, and Mr. Macandrew has only to wait patiently for his turn. A misjudged step on the part of the 3linistry, another aueh outrageous proceeding as that by which Mr. Hall secured his triumph, will most probably turn the present minority into a majority. Then, and then only, will be the time for the Liberal party to challenge the right of the present Government to remain in power. Until that time arrives, the Opposition must be patient and self-denying. Though they have been defeated by a piece of discreditable manoeuvring, they can claim to have achieved a victory in another way. The Liberal party have roused the country to a sense of the many wrong* that need redressing. They have made manifest the necessity for a multitude of reforms—reforms that the present Ministry will be compelled to bring about. In this lieA the victory of the Liberals. Though out in the cold, and unable themselves to establish the reforms they have advocated, they are still strong enough to force the Ministry to perform the work. To assist cheerfully in passing the Liberal measures now becomes their duty. Let them do this, and, although they have not the pleasure and honor of bringing forward measures of reform themselves, at least half the glory of getting those measures placed on the Statute Book will belong to itfaetß.