The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1885.

Otago Witness, Issue 1762, 29 August 1885, Page 17

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1885.

The sword which has been hanging over the Ministry so long has fallen at last. Major Atkinson has tabled resolutions which lay down a definite alternative to the policy of the Government. If they are carried he will be bound to be as good as his word, and if they are rejected the House will be bound to give Ministers the moral support which is necessary to the carrying on of the public business. It is high time that the cobwebs of individual caprice were cleared away, and whatever may be the fate of Major Atkinson's motion, it will at least put public affairs once more upon the basis of principles instead of personalities, and divide the House into definite political parties. It was not pretence on the Premier's part when he welcomed Major Atkinson's resolutions. On the 'contrary, we can well imagine that he heaved a sigh of relief at seeing a prospect of an end to the miserable humiliation of the last two months. Better expulsion from office than the continual attacks of candid friends and mutiny within the camp. The much-talked-about Middle Party must now cast its lot with one side or the other. Mr Ormond, Mr Montgomery, and all the nonentities who have been forward from time to time, must now resume their proper positions. The attack is made by the leader of the Opposition, and- the issues of the challenge are clear and straightforward.'

There will be many of opinion that Major Atkinson would have done better to move a resolution of want of confidence pure and simple. If he had been eager for office this might have been the easier course. But ingoing out of his way to lay down the grounds of his objection to the Ministerial policy and the principles upon which he proposes to carry on the Government if the opportunity is vouchsafed to him, we hold that he has chosen the more patriotic and the better part. This removes the question from the region of personalities and makes it one of principles. In a few words Major Atkinson's six resolu-

tions may be summarised to mean that he is prepared to conduct the Government with greater economy than the present Administration. Pie offers to reduce the public works expenditure by a quarter of a million, and Lhe ordinary Estimates by L 30,000 this year, and LBO,OOO next year ; he postpones the construction of the West Coast railway ; declares that he can carry through till next year without any further loan ; and refuses to construct the North Island Trunk railway until arrangements have been made for the purchase of • the land. The votes of honourable members are asked to be given not according to their personal preference for Sir Julius Vogel or Major Atkinson, but according to whether they consider a policy of retrenchment is desirable or not. But we must say, to Major Atkinson's credit, that he has not laid down impracticable proposals which were certain to be v rejected, and thus getting out of his difficulty. On the contrary, whilst the retrenchment he advocates is substantial, it is at the same time moderate. There is no question of letting the Colony down with a run and stopping all expenditure. The policy of these resolutions is what, in private affairs, we should name that of cutting one's coat according to one's cloth. Js the country prepared to do this, or does it prefer to live on its expectations ?

There can be little doubt that the Government will* gain several votes owing to the reluctance of Ministers to prolong the session indefinitely. -The House has been ' working unusually hard this year, and a majority are more or less ill and tired out. They yearn to get to bed before the small hours of the morning, and to avoid sleepless nights engendered by the foetid atmosphere of the Legislative Chamber. On the other hand, it is sincerely to be hoped that the proposed vote of LI 50,000 for the West Coast and Nelson railway will .prick the consciences of some few 1 doubtful members and turn the scale. We shall be sorry to see a Middle, Island Ministry turned out and a North Island one put in. We fully recognise the practical aid which the present Government are giving to the Otago Central, and the energy they have displayed in various directions, but the necessity for retrenchment at the present juncture, and the undesirability of constructing the West Coast railway at the public expense, seem to us to be of paramount consideration. We have not failed to notice that Major Atkinson's resolution only postpones the construction of the West Coast railway by the Colony, and does not object to it on principle, but postponement is at least something gained. It is the unreasonableness of everyone wishing to have everything all his own way which has Iff] to the present position. We have got to learn to take the less of two evils in politics, and this applies to more things than the West Coast railway.