Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6481, 26 September 1892, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY E VENING.

GISBORNE, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER W, 1892.

AN APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY.

In inner political circles the beliof is growing that there will be dissolution during the recess. The Governmennt are confident, so it is stated, that they will be able to sweep the country. The action o^ (he Council on the Land and Electoral Bills is to form the basis of the appeal. Seeing that the Upper House has accepted the Land Bill almost as it came from the representative Chamber, it is difficult to see how anything connected with that measuro can be adduced as evidence of a conflict between the two branches of the Legislature. The material amendments in "the original Bill were made in the House, and at the instance of a section o the supporters of the Ministry, The Go f vornment would have gloried in sticking to every proposal of the measure as intro

duced if they could have depended upon the votes of the members who ussally follow them. The limit of obedience of the country representatives of the party was reached when they were asked to abolish the freehold tenure in the disposal of the public estate. Tn this matter the Government do not represent the opinion of the majority of the representatives of the people. Ministers are tho creation of 11 Parliamentary majority, and only as such can the Government claim to echo the voice of the country. lb would be quite competent for Ministers to ask for a dissolution in case of an adverse vote in the Lower House, but there has been no adverse vote on any question which the Government treated as one of no confidence. The Land Bill was altered in accordance with the views of a considerable number of the Ministerial supporters, and a false issue will be placed before the country if the Legislative Council is represented as having been responsible for the rejection of the land policy of the Government as first enunciated by the Hon. John McKenzie. The only amendment of importance made by the Council was to raise the maximum grazing capacity of the pastoral leases from 5000 to 20,000 sheep, as at present. The term of lease may be for any period not exceeding twenty-one years. The usual tenure is seven or ten years, with right of resumption by the Crown of second clean lands when required for sale. The effect of limiting the capacity to five thousand sheep would be to prevent the occupation of a very large area of rough hilly country in the South Island, especially in Otago. The experiments already mnde in cutting up these runs have proved the reverse of successful. The working-man does not want to go upon country of that kind, except to catch rabbits. The only conflict on land policy between the two Houses is in connection with pastoral leases of mountainous country, much of it snowcovered for a considerable period of the year. As regards the Electoral Bill, both Houses have affirmed tho principle of woman suffrage. The difference is on a matter of detail. The Council is of opinion that women should bo accorded equal privileges with seamen, shearers, and commercial travellers. The Government, through Sir Patrick Buckley, have declared that they will not accept tho amendment. Our correspondent telegraphed on Saturday that it is believed the Upper House will give way on the amendment to burst up the city constituencies, if the Govern menfc make the concession of electoral rights to women. This greatly narrows the dispute. Tho Council should disappoint tho Government by giving way on the. point, which would be a most likely contingency if the Council were really sincere on the question of female suffrage. It is a notorious fact, that the Government are " not sound on the goose." If they had wanted the principle to be enacted, fehey would never have allowed it to take its chances in a general Electoral Bill. As for the contention that voting by electors' rights in the manner proposed would interfere with the secresy of the ballot, that is all moonshine. There is not a politician in the country who would give a five pound note for a scrutiny of voting papers afteF an election. Unlawful scrutiny would be unprofitable and dangerous work. If the Government appeal to the country during the recess, they will to a certainty raise the cry that the amendment of the Council w;is an insidious attack on the secresy of the ballot ; but the electors should be intelligent enough to see the hoUownessof the charge. If Ministers seek a dissolution, they will do so under the belief that the longer the day of reckoning is postponed, the worse will be their chances of being retained in power. It is generally believed that the Salisbury Government made a mistake in not going to the country twelve or eighteen months ago. Perhaps, the Ballauce Government intend to profit by the English lesson. Although the Opposition have little occasion to fear the results of a general election e\en now, the prospect of turning out the Government will probably bo much greater twelve months hence. But that is looking at the matter in a purely political aspect. The sooner Ministers are sent about their business the better for the country. There will bo no prosperity until confidence is restored.

The following is the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's report, (kited London, 2-kh Sept. :— Tallow : Fine mutton tallow is in little demand ; other sorts are ready of sale. Fine mutton tallow is worth 2(is per cwt ; good beef tallow, 24s Od. Frozen Meat : The market is understocked for beef. Nevr Zealand beef, forequartcrs, is worth 3:£ d per lb ; hindquarters, 4^d per lb, quotations nominal. Mutton market easier ; Canterbury mutton is worth 4d per lb, whilst Wellington mutton is worth 3Jd per lb ; lamb, market weaker, and is worth jjd per lb. The Poverty Bay Road Board met on Saturday evening last, all the members being present. In view of the amount of work requiring to be done, it was decided to strike a halfpenny rate for the current year. In conjunction with the Ormond Road Board, the Board will clear, form, and drain, as far as the joint vote of £40 will admit, the Mission Road, Waercnga-a-hika. It was also decided to erect a new culvert at Mr MeNair'es property, Matawhoro, to call tenders for supply of gravel, to repair all roads under t lie Board's control, and during the summer to clear about 20 miles of the Board's drains. Sundry accounts were passed for payment. Tenders are also to be called for repairing damages caused by the late floods on the middle road. The Union Steamship Company has done a great deal to bring the attractions of New Zealand under the notice of tourists. For many years past the best line of steamers in the colonies has run between New Zealand and Australia. But the Company has not rested content with providing first-class means of travelling. By the extensive circulation of books and pamphlets, the enterprising firm has largely added to the outside knowledge of New Zealand, more especially as regards the natural features of the country. The latest publication bearing on the subject is an illustrated pamphlet on the West Coast Sounds, issued by Messrs Wilkie and Co. of Dunedin. The written description is by Mr Malcolm Ross, and the illustrations by Mr R. Haweridge. "Both have done their work well. The chief feature of the book is the illustrations. Views are given of most of the places in the Sounds visited by the excursion steamers. The production is most creditable to colonial art, and the Government have shown their appreciation by ordering 500 copies, which they intend to send to the Agent-General for circulation in the Mother Country. No doubt, the work will be extensively circulated in Australia, where most of the excursionists so far come from. The book is obtainable at a small price. "lolanthe" Practice,— All mombers are requested to attend practice this evening at 7 o'clock sharp, and to bring their vocal scores. — Ad vt. New Imported Millinery, Summer Capes, Blouses, and other Novelties for the present season, just received, by the Misses Adams. — Advt.