The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1894.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6064, 25 September 1894, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1894.

Everyone who has watohed the course of political events for the last few weeks must have come to the conclusion that the Goveranent have lost ground both m the House and m the country. The longer the borrowing policy of the Seddon Ministry has been before Parliament, and the more fully it has been developed, the less it has been approved of. At first tbe Government supporters J- *Ko TTr.tm« "»°»o reluctant to criticise the measures placed before thorn. Their party instincts and tbeir subservience to the Premier kept them silent where they could not . truthfully give assent. Latterly — say within the last fortnight — there has been a great change m that respect, and the Whips have had an unusual amonnt of trouble m keeping the full majority together. There was great difficulty m carrying the second reading of the Consols Bill, one of the principal policy measures of the session, and it is probable that it would have been lost if the Treasurer bad not consented to throw over two very important clauses. It would be easy to mention other instances m which the Government have suffered a loss of prestige. We do not say that they are m danger of being turned off the Treasury benohes, but it is satisfactory to observe that they can no longer carry matters with a high band. They must submit to have their measures fairly criticised by both sides of the House, and we believe that even during the present session the result will be very beneficial to the interests of the country.