The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY. AUGUST 14, 1884. THE NEW MINISTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1217, 14 August 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY. AUGUST 14, 1884. THE NEW MINISTRY.

The neW Ministry has bsen formed, and, if they can agree they ought to be able to steer the political ship successfully. There is no one.in the present Ministry who has not at some time or other figured as a “star.” They have all been leaders in their way, and have been credited with more than average ability. The three principal men amongst them were not in the late Parliament at all, while another, Mr Richardson, only sat during the last few days of it, just long enough to secure the honorarium. Mr Stout was Attorney-General in the Grey Ministry, which’ position he resigned owing to the pressure of private business, and h«s not sought election since ; Mr Ballance was defeated in 1881 by Mr Watt ; Sir- Julius Vogel was away in England floating companies, and, as we know, Mr Richardson was elected for 1< aiapoi only a few days before the dissolution. Messrs Ballance, Stout, Macandrew and Sir George Whitmore were members of the Grey government ; Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Richardson have always identified themselves with the Atkinson party. This leads one to conclude that very conflicting elements have met, and the question is, how will they agree ? We incline to think they will agree ven wed ; for there is not the slightest difference between them on the principal point—that is, to get into office and stay there. Office, power, and pelf an the great incentives, and their feelinus. aspirations, and desires harmonise beautifully on these cardinal points. M> Stout, with Sir Julius Vogel as dr' nurse, is to be Premier, and Mi Ballance is to be Native Minister. Wt have a good deal of faith in these two gentlemen. They undoubtedly possess ability, and their views on the lane question are pretty sound. They are both favorable to perpetual leasing, in e more liberal form even than the late

Ministry, and consequently we fed hopeful that they will conserve "tire patrimony of the people of New Zealand. Ftill, Sir Julius Vogel has different views on the subject. According to his Ashburton speech he would dispose of the Crown lands in every possible Way. He W( u'd h-nse,or sell, or dispose of them; on the deferred payment system, 1 just as the people applied for them, nor would he limit the area. The fact is, Sir Julius Vogel’s idea was free trade., in land, which meant 1 that' money'rings and capitalist would' get it all, while the poor mat: would get, none. That was Sir Julius Vogel’s idea in Ashburton, but we do not believe that Messrs Bdllanoe and Stout will ever agree to such a course as this. However, time will tell. We have so tar disposed of three of the Ministry. Now come Messrs Montgomery and Macandrew. These two gentlemen have been ...riding; their hobby horse of'insular separation to death. Mr Montgomery in 1883 sketched out a plan of separation, and Mr Macandrew in a decent speech atPort Chalmers, spoke somewhat like this: “ 0, that I possessed the eloquence.) jL Sir George Grey,l would make the stones of the street support Separation.” These were not the words Mr Macanclnm used, butthey were equally melodramatic, and ridiculous, 1 Messrs Ballance and Stout have no sympathy with separation while Sir Julius Vogel is its pronounced, opponent. Then comes Mi Montgomery’s “bursting-up” policy on which Sir Julius delivered a homily to the working men of this country. By-the-by this brings tO ( qur mind something very ridiculous. While Mr Montgomery was preaching the “ hurst-ing-up ” policy the Lyttelton Times idolised him. Immediately Sir Julius Vogel spoke, and condemned this proposal the Lyttelton Times knew no language sufficiently expressive to’ endorse his sentiments. Now, must Mr Montgomery put his “ bursUngup” policy in his ' pocket to. suit Ids colleagues. Then there is’-Mf, Richardson. He has ever and always been a property tax manf while all - hi.-v colleagues are land taxers. He, have something to get- rid of, pear in newly-madh regimentals| bedring the Vogelian crest. Taken altogether,,, they are able men, but a most iricoiV:grunus combination. Politics and Governments are, however, made up of compromises, and as they are able men, , possessing a good deal ,of common. >ense, it is possible they may give and take for the sake of the one grand glorious object—Office. It is, however*,, too soon to criticise tlveinv It is only* fair to give them time tp put their policy before the country.' _ Then we shall be in a position to give eur opinion of them. There is one man amongst them from whom we expect something, and that is Mr Macandrew. He recently advocated a State Land Bank, or, in other words, he took up the. Bank scheme which was put before the Gladstone electors recently. Mr Baliance is inclined more or less favorably to the same idea, if we mistake not, and this gives us a hope that something in that direction may be done, Mr Ballance,, however, is « student -of -political economy, and his mind is overburdened with all the economical notions enunciated by writers on the subject—from Adam 6mith to Henry George, It is not easy to move men with such scf notions as are inculcated by such readings, they forget that the political economy of the past is bursting up every day, and they seldom accept new until they obtain the stamp of the mint on them. However, Mr Ballance is a very able man, and he may be able to shake off ; prejudices, aud accept new ideas. On-the whole we do not .cjislike the present Ministry. , We hope their programme will be as,acceptable as they are themselves.-