THE Thames Advertiser Favour to none; fear of none; justice to all. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1896. SIGNS OF WEAKNESS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8364, 27 February 1896, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser Favour to none; fear of none; justice to all. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1896. SIGNS OF WEAKNESS.

Ik it is true that the Seddon Government intend acceding to the demands of the Prohibitionists by bringing down an amending Licensing Bill, in which the principle of the bare majority for the local option poll will be recognised, it must be taken for granted that they have come to the conclusion that their position is weak, and that the only way they can hope to secure a following as tho result of the general election is to conciliate the extreme temperance party at any cost. For our part we are of opinion that such a policy, if pursued, will be the means of sounding 'he death knell of the Seddon administration. It is so palpable that the step is only an angle for votes. Not once, but scores of times, has the Premier said it would be tho utmost folly to pass a repressive law such as the Prohibitionists want by a bare majority;'.such words permeate the whole of his speeches in Hansard dealing with licensing legislation, and so uncompromising an opponent has be always appeared to bo to the stop that the leaders of the extreme temperance piii-by have openly expressed their hostility to him and have publicly stated that so long as tho Seddon Government was in power they could not expect even the present licensing laws to be well administered, The signs •just now certainly lend some color to the idea that the rumor m above stated is well founded. We have first of all tho appointment ofJVIr Hall-Jones as Minister of Public Works. Now, this gentleman has certainly done nothing to merit reward at tlm hands of the Government. "But," wo boar some people say, "appointment to Cabinet rank is not for favors received,-it is governed by fitness for the position, and ability." Uufortunatoly it is not so in colonial politics. Services to party is the main consideration, although at times other factors come in. and this is one of those occasions, the other factor being, as we surmise, a desire to gain the favor of the Prohibitionists. It is a coincidence per-1 haps, but it is rather striking just now, j that all appointments, to tho Cabinet I were held over until the result of tho| Christchuroh election was known, when the ultra-temperance sentiment in that city could be guaged. It was found rather stronger than was expected, although as we said whon remarking on the election, the result was no criterion, as the light took place under such remarkable circumstances ; but, however, the Government choose to take it as a test, and it apparently was a guide to them in deciding to offer a place to Mr Hall-Jones, who is a decided. Prohibitionist and is well thought of by the leaders of the movement. It must not be taken that wo consider Mr Hall-Jones a man who would cast aside his convictions and ally himself hand and foot to Messrs Seddon, Ward, and Co,, without some complete understanding. Not by any means; our opinion is just this; Mr Hall-Jones has been promised that he will have control of the amended licensing legislation, in which the feature of a bare majority is to be nmdoprominent. All this seems very feasible, and there is something further that leads us to think the Government has given way to the Prohibitionists We refer to the way the Premier met the deputation in "Wellington the other day in reference to the removal of the license from Tborwloi to Newtown. To our mind be simply tot himself to placate the deputationists. Of course he could not give in to tlipiV i-cquesf,, but he told them that the license should not have been granted, and that the question whether .the wishes of *uy section of tho people should be nwpiwtod by a Licensing Committee outside of the jjjidiclf(.l aspect would come before the Cabinet, and if nw>cotN'irv, legislation would be brought in to (leal with such cane*, Mr Seddon is a . great general, and possible he has con- ' Kidcred his tactics well, but it seems to us it would be infinitely better to retire with 1/ofltfP than to allow the people to tuw round wm! tyH )j' I,n llis .tunKo!ltjng policy does not s.uif». We are extremely wiry fch/i/i n/jfiiirs takpn sucli a turn, for tjierd were points m tlu> Government policy as given out the other day wo likc.rj very much, and which, if/uloptodj would have giycn the party »wsh kiujos, Wp .can only hope tho general iu«?rpiy2fc#/n 4 Wie signs of the In teat move are quite wrong.