THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, JUNE 1.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2003, 1 June 1868, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, JUNE 1.

The evident difficulty under which the Reid Ministry labored when they were so unexpectedly called to assume the responsibilities of office, was only the precursor of the defeat which caused their retirement. It has been plain, throughout the whole of the discussions that have taken place, that that party has not cojrnprehended the intimate relationship that exists between the varioua industrial interests in the Province. They fail to apprehend even the essentials to the profitable prosecution of agriculture. This is no uncommon case in persons whose attention has been mainly directed to one object. Absorbed in carrying out the purpose to which they have devoted their lives, they. are apt to overlook conditions beyond its immediate requirements, that are yetnecesBary to its success. -To this cause must it' be attributed that Mr Reid and his friends appear to attach so little importance to public works. To them the cry for bridges and improved means of communication appears very secondary to what they term settling the people on the land. It does not Beem to be comprehended by them, that cheap * means of" transit are a3 necessary to success in igriculturCj as a circulating medium and the

devotion of men to different pursuits, to the distribution of necessaries m civilised communities. They do not understand that r in a commnnity like that of Otago, where, in consequence of its various industries, labor rules high, and where it is not desirable its remuneration should be reduced, the cheapening of cost of communication* atands in the place of a reduction of wages; that it would have the advantage of enabling the Province to support a very much larger population than can now find profitable employment in it, and thns provide an expanding market for the produce of large areas of land which cannot now be cultivated with advantage. Mr Reid would take another road. He would settle a cottar population of small holders of land on the soil, in order that, through a reduction in the price of labor, the land already under crop may be rendered profitable. The loan which the present Government propose, laid out in re-productive works, would prove a good investment for the Province, It would provide immediate employment to numerous families ; and, through its judicious expenditure, the Province would not only have an increase of population, but would be able to support them in comfort, while the incidence of local taxation, being borne by a larger number, would bo lightly felt. All these advantages appear to have been overlooked or ignored, unless we adopt the hypothesis, which Mr Ileid and his party industriously repudiate, that they are determined to obtain office at any price. But if the latter position bo not the fact, how can the Opposition justify themselves in their persistent efforts to retard the progress of the Session ? The Government so far met their views as to refer to a Select Committee of the Council, the question of the Proclamation of Hundreds: tho Provincial Council have shown by their votes, that they do not coincide with t!io course of action proposed by Mr Heid and his, party: and although tho Opposition have been met by concession on one point, and defeat on tho other, they have tho temerity to push their obstructivencsa still further, by proposing a dissolution of the Council. Were there any great principle before tho House, on which an appeal to tho Province was necessary, such a proposition might find acceptance amongst tho people. But although parties in the Council are pretty equally divided, the opinion outside is that it is a mere personal squabble amongst the members ; that the attack made upon the Executive is not for the good of tho Province, but to put some office-seekers in power ; and that tho expense and hindrance to business of another election ought to be altogether uncalled for and unnecessary. Even should buc% a step be taken, it is more than probable that the Opposition would prove to have played the game of their opponents, and that the result would be'to strengthen the hands of the present Ministry, Unseemly scenes such as have taken place in the Council during the past few weeks, are rapidly causing disgust uuus.* b «,<, *i»«._..«.«^ m f admirers of Provincial Institutions. But it is not logical to say that, bee luse of those drawbacks, Provincial Institutions should bo abolished ; for by a parity of reasoning, representative institutions everywhere should be equally condemned, as •■! scenes equally {, reprehonsible have been enacted in Victoria, New South Wales, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and even in the Imperial Parliament. These considerations may palliate, but they cannot excuse such party manifestations. Where,, however, there are such strong grounds for conviction that measures are not ao much condemned, as placo sought after by the Opposition, notwithstanding the experience they, havo had that in their ranks there are not men equal to Executive duties, it in time that those who retain a spark of independence, should support the Government in whatever measures they propose for public benefit, that the public business may be proceeded with, and mere faction discountenanced.