The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1896. THE GOVERNMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 208, 1 September 1896, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1896. THE GOVERNMENT.

The Minister of Lands has " let the cat out of the bag," with regard to the chances of the present Government at the forthcoming election, in a speech at the Banking Enquiry. Mr McKenzie is one who hits straight out from the shoulder, and when he has anything to say, says it, without counting the cost to either friends or foes. On several occasions his outspokenness has placed his colleagues in anything but an enviable position, and relations have become strained, but have been patched up again by the tact of the Premier. It is the policy of the present holders of office to maintain that they have a secure tenure, in fact a modified lease in perpetuity of the Government benches. Whilst putting on this bold front they are painfully aware that distrust of them and their fads has eaten into the vitals of the electors, and that they may look forward to a great shaking up when the electors next " ope their mouths" at the ballotbox. The million loan Bill, which has just passed its second reading, has increased the Opposition in the present House to 29, leaving three votes unaccounted for, and a number of those who are members at present, and who vote at the word of command, have not a ten-to-one chance of reposing again on the Parliamentary cushions. It is very evident to any one who reads the signs of the times that parties have evened up in. the Colony, and as a new policy will have to be placed before the country the reign of bluster and bounce will have to pass away. Goaded by these unpleasant reflections, Mr McKenzie says in effect that either the Government or the Bank of New Zealand must go to the wall. He said, " The Bank of Now Zealand would never b 9 a success, and he believed it would have to be liquidated and cleared up, because it was being used by political parties to bring about the downfall of the Government." Or McKenzie seems to forget that by the action of his Government the' colony has pledged itself to the extent of about five millions to place the Bank on a secure foundation, and that on the 26th of June last he stated in the House, when speaking in favor of setting up the Banking Committee : " We had the interests and credit of the Bank to maintain at that time, and very properly so. Now, it is quite differeut, as everyone in the colony knows that, so far as the credit of the Bank is concerned, its position is quite good, and we can now with safety get the information." If two months ago the Bank was, in the honorable gentleman's opinion, so sound, what has occurred since to make him declare that it would never be a success ? The terrible effect which the collapse of. the Bank would have hid en the colony was pictured in very vivid colors by Mr McKenzie in his defence of the Government's action, and if they would be half as bad as they were painted how much more so would they now be when the credit of the colony is pledged to the extent of a further five millions, besides the individual interests in the Bank. As far, however, as the Bank's waut of stability is concerned, we consider that Mr MeKenzie's opinion is all bunkum, and that the country can much better afford to see the present Government go to the wall than the Bank, and what is more it is the Government which will go to the wall. There is no use blaming the Bank as the cause of their downfall, as their sins of omission and commission outside the banking legislation are heavy enough to sink a ship with half a dozm men like Messrs McKenzie and Seddon at the helm.