The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 18th MARCH, 1886.

Southland Times, Issue 9164, 13 March 1886, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, 18th MARCH, 1886.

There is to bs a " halterstion of the catalogue," as wo once hoard v Now Zjaland Mayor express it. Thia worthy gentleman, who, ue need liardij' remark, did not bail from the Land o' Oakes, happened to be presiding at a suburban musiuu! entertainment, and meant to say that there was to be a change in the programme. It may perhaps savour of profanity to compare a policy elaborated by the combined intellects of a Stout-Vogel Ministry to the list of songs to be sung at a village concert. But it would seem that the two things have at least this in common, that they are both capable of being " haltered." Tbe day before yesterday the Otago Daily Times published a long communication from its Wellington correspondent, the gentleman of " dissolution " renown, entitled " A forecast of the Ministerial programme." According to this despatch *' a new departure has been initiated with regard to next session's programme which will probably be the means *f deferring tbe general election nntil next year, when the Parliament becomes defunct by effiuxion of time." This meaDs that Sir Julius Yogel bas come to tbe conclusion that the time is not ripe for his great scheme. He will have to educate, not indeed his party, who seem inclined to swallow anything he may propose, but the Opposition, and the people at large before he can hope to get the handling of his ten millions ; and like a prudent man, as in certain respects he undoubtedly if, he determines to ca' canny, as the Scotch say, and keep himself and his Piemier and the rest of the happy family in office. The main lines of his second scheme of pnblic works (Sir George Gr«y objects, and rightly, to call it a new polity r ot, public works) will be laid before the House next session, but merely by way of exhibiting it to members and to the country Vhq adaption or rejection of it will to left friiie &w pwstj^eppi^ f?f

1887. In the meantime a million, or a trillion and a half will be borrowed to beep things going, and the oracle will be forked in each a way that tbe Colonial Bhall be allowed to retain his - billet while he is patting bis finishing touches to the education of the somewhat backward doloniet*. Such iB the " halteration of the catalogue," as announced by the infallible' correspondent of the Otago jpaily Times. It is certainly an improveJEnent upon the original programme, not to say that it will afford Sir Julius Vogeltime for converting more of our - politicians to bis peculiar views — by what means be himself and those whom he has already gathered into the Vogelian fold best know. Tbe Wellington correspondent to whom we are indebted for the interesting details we have just imparted to our readers telegraphs att follows, in the same communication : — " Ministers have been working very hard indeed. During thdr constant recess travels about the country they have picked up a great deal of information as to the drift of public feeling and — what is of still more immediate importance — they have done much towards securing doubtful votes. Indeed, from information 1 have received from straightforward and trustworthy channels, I am convinced that they have already made a fair working majority tolerably certain for the coming session." And this is what is called politics in New Zealand. The statement — and there is unfortunately no great reason to doubt its truth — is simply a lihjsl on our colonial politician?, who, it seems, can be " negotiated," as it were at 3ight, by Ministers travelling about the country in pomp and luxury at the expense of the public. Better the most Utopian of S''r George Grey's plans for the amelioration of the race, yea, a thousand times better, than such degrading and detestable practices.