THE REPORTED DISSOLUTION.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 21, 7 May 1892, Page 8

THE REPORTED DISSOLUTION.

In reply to a question put by the ,N.Z. Herald's Wellington correspondent. to Mr Ballance as to the report that Ministers desired a dissolution, the Premier said it was untrne. Continuing, he said: Of course, if we were to be defeated on a question of policy or administration we should in that case claim an appeal to the country, and we should not resign. We should have a claim to a dissolution; or, again, if the Legislative Council were to reject or mutilate measures which we considered as important ones, it is quite possible that in such a case we might, in accordance with well recognised constitutional practice, appeal to the country on our policy before asking His Excellency to appoint a sufficient number of new Legislative Councillors to ensure the passing of measures approved by the country. There are other cases in which a dissolution might become necessary, but we do not anticipate such, and are not planning anything of the sort. Still I may tell you we do not mean to have our policy defeated or our measures torn to pieces by the Legislative Council. On that point we are quite determined. "As for the Lower House," Mr Ballance mentioned, " I think it will be a stormy session. I don't believe we shall be beaten, but I think we shall have a'good deal of hard fighting. We have undoubtedly given offence to several, and they will be sure to attack us. As for Sir George Grey, if he. doe 9 attack us, as he is said to intend, on the question of taxing improvements over three thousand value, he will surely make himself ridiculous. He might ally himself and his party of'discontents' with' the Tory party, but their very speeches would, be mutually destructive. It would be the party in favour of the property tax, and those most violently opposed to it joining together to attack the Government, because their policy was a moderate and and cautious one. Naturally we should be only too glad to do without that tax on improvements if we could do so safely, but above all things the colony must be safe in its finance, and I for one will never consent to do anything that will shake that safety. If we find we can dispense with the tax on improvements we shall be only too glad to do so, but is it not absurd for Sip George Grey to take up that ground ? Why the only people whom that tax on improvements over £3000 will touch are the rich squattsrs and' landowners. It is their fight he would be fighting, not that of the masses. How would that fit in with all his professions? No; if he attempts such a course he can be completely crushed by a few speeches. The thing is too preposterous."