The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1903.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8293, 23 September 1903, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1903.

Thf, possibilities of a early dissolution have been talked of in some directions, and we note tliat the Lyttelton Times lias suggested that Mr Seddon, if he wants a subject upon which to appeal-to the country, should accede to the request of the Christchurch Progressive Liberal Association to stop all further sales of Crown land and provide for a periodical revaluation of Grown leases. But we do not think that there is any need for seriously contemplating the possibility of a dissolution, nor for considering what ground should be adopted for an appeal to the country. Nothing has yet transpired to justify the Premier in concluding that the present House are out of sympathy with, the Ministry or that a general election would give him. a stronger and more dependable following. The Ministry have a substantial i majority in the House, and though, some members of the parly are at times a little re- i fractory, the Premier lias no right to assume I that tie occasional displays of independence by these members are displeasing to those who sent them to Parliament. We do not helieve that- the Premier has given any thought to the question: of a dissolution. The whole talk upon the subject has arisen out of the action of the Government in bringing down and putting through Parliament a measure for abolishing the triple electorates in the cities. The reason for this early action has puzzled a good many people, who, in the absence of an explanation, have eagerly jumped to the conclusion that it was taken with a view to a dissolution upon some pretext. These people are not satisfied with the assurance that the Ministry have been moved by a desire to see the principle of single electorates given complete operation. They have come to the conclusion that the Ministry liave some hidden motive, and an intention to goto the country as early as possible has suggested itself to their inquiring minds as the solution of the mystery. But why should there be any desire on the part of the Ministry to appeal to the electors ? The answer to this question is found by the adherents of the dissolution theory in a supposed desire to rid the House of members whose presence is said to be particularly displeasing, to the Premier and to confer an advantage upon the liquor trade. By some process of reasoning that is not clear they have concluded that Ministers beJieve that with single electorates, instead of triple electorates giving the power of plumping, Messrs Taylor, 1 Eli, and Bedford would not secure seats, and that therein lies the 6ecret of. the division of the city triple electorates and the presumed desire for an appeal to the country. Again it is as-! sumed that the Premier wishes a dissolutions in order that the liquor trade may enjoy a longer respite from a local option poll, as no such poll would be taken were Parliament dissolved before the- three years' course had been run, and none would be held until the succeeding dissolution. All this is, however, mere speculation begotten of imaginative minds .stimulated by a desire to pierce a mystery that is really 110 mystery at all. We are satisfied that there is no thought 011 the part, of the Ministry about an early dissolution, and that the only thing that would give rise to the serious contemplation of such a course would be defeat on some crucial question. Mr Seddon is too astute to have failed to appreciate the fact tiiat a dissolution in the existing stats of the public mind over licensing matters in Newtown and Bruce would be attended by results not altogether favorable to him and his Ministry. -