The Poverty Bay Herald. AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 844, 25 July 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald. AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1879.

By our "Wellington telegrams " our readers will perceive that there is still a chance for the present Government, and if they should be out-voted, a dissolution and an appeal to the country is almost certain. . "We are glad to see the contest taking place ; we are glad to find that actions which appear doubtful are passed through the ordeal of the opinion of the House. If Ministers have wilfully done wrong, let them be punished; if not, they should not be caluminatd, and they now get an opportunity of defending their actions. A Government, with a large majority, such as there was some three or four years ago, is frequently guilty of acts of great oppression ; they feel themselves secure, and they follow their own devices with impunity. There is nothing so conducive to moderation and healthy just Government as a Opposition. Not an Opposition formed of place-hunters, but of men who are determined to see both sides of every question, men who have no ulterior ends to serve, but who, m the interest of their country, form a check on the powers that be. "We fear such an Opposition seldom exists, at any rate to colonial Governments, the Opposition of the colonies being, for the most part, composed of men who have axes to grind, and who procure their election m variety of ways to enable them to attain their desired ends.

It is not many years since we heard a member m his address to his constituency say, "I am going m to get a certain Bill passed ; when that is done, I- shall resign." The Bill was passed, and he didn't resign, not that we think he should have done so, but we are desirous of illustrating the fact that many men are actuated by other motives than patriotism, both m their efforts to obtain a seat, and m their subseqnent actions m Parliament. We shall be glad to see less personal feeling displayed — a more patient bearing given — statesmanlike behaviour exhibited on both sides, and may the best men win.