THE LIBERAL CAUSE.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7227, 25 January 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LIBERAL CAUSE.

(From • The Colonist,' Jan. 22.) The speeoh delivered by Mr Ballanee at Aramoho last evening claims attention, inasmuch as the Premier therein referred to several matters of importance, which not merely affect the Liberal party, but also the interests of the Colony. During the latter period of the term of power enjoyed by the Atkinson Administration the Colony was losing at a rapid rate no inconsiderable portion of its life blood by the leakage of population. Trained artisans, native born workers, and artificers were leaving these shores for Australian towns at such a rate as to occasion f at least a feeling of uneasiness, but until the advent to. power of the Liberal Administration no systematic attempt was made to staunch the bleeding. After Mr Ballanee and his colleagues came into power the loss still continued for a time, and then it was that the supporters of the party under whp^ conduct of affairs the exodus set in ofo^menced loudly to complain, endeavoxfns to throw the onus on shoulders thaV were no s really responsible for the unsatisfactory state of affairs. One of the first of ih c pSctical proceedings adopted by the4 resent overn . meni i was to orgmise^r Department that should bring together/ those needing employment and th^ c havi wo & to give, the good re> salt being shorfc] apparent. Ano^r step taken was with * d . esir £/™ shift the burdens from o f tt, oge straggling to develop the resources of the Colony on to those of the . capitalists and drones, who erstwhile had be9n . content to enjoy the honoy gathered by the workers in the sweat of their brow. In a surprisingly short space of time confidence was restored, and long before the aotual burthens had in reality baen shifted, hope became revived, for evidence wbs offorded that the power of the grasping few hsd departed. At this stage other circumstances favorable to the Colony became manifest, end gfcer a lengthy period, during which Kew Zealand was losiDg a valued portion of her pooulation, the tide turned, and now for some little time a rash back to the Colony has been swelling in volume. Even those practically opposed to the Government must rejoice at the fact. In his speech the Premier very forcibly and fairly alluded to the recent Wellington election, and he was quite rfsht in saying that a rebuff would have been disastrous to the party, but considering the strennons efforts of the Opposition, the victory wag a decided one. His complainfe of voters being brought from considerable distances to suppott powerful interests affords an illustration of the need for extending the one man one vote principle, and in support of his remnrba it may be stated that some Nel?cn residents proceeded to Wellington in order to record their votes against the Government supporter. That the majority of the people will long in patience suffer themselves to b 9 overridden by a nominated majority of the Upper House Is preposterous. It is to be boped, however, that the good sense of tha Legislative Council will accept the inevitable, and not attempt to thwart the popular wish, for 3uch a jftonrse could only lead to trouble. Never hefore did the prospects of the Liberal party in New Zealand appear brighter than at the preHent, but it mu3t be remembered that it is at such a time the utmost circumspection is needed.