THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1978, 7 May 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1875.

Some New Zealand politicians seem to think that the legislation of the Colony, and the administration of its affairs cannot, be satisfactorily carried on without an organised opposition to the Ministry of the day, forgetting that here there is no auch thing as defined parties in politics. There may be differences of opinion, but the Colony has not yet arrived at that stage of progress which would nece»sitate the enrolment of Ourlegislators under '■bine party banner. We have neither Whigs nor Tories—Liberals or Conservatives. There is plenty of opposition manifested at every session of parliament, but interests are so conflicting that the men who vote against the Ministry one day may be found with them the next. In the coming gession of Parliament it is thought that parties will be more defined than Hitherto; that the question of abolishing the Provinces will be the one over which membori will elect to array themselves on one side or the other, and the enquiry has often been mooted of late, who is to be the j leader of the opposition ? Some Auckland journals have nominated Sir George Grey to the post, and it has been said that I ho has already placed himself in communication with the Superintendents of Otago, Canterbury and Wellington with a view to secure their support. We Ijiow not if- this be true, but if it be, ~ we do think ifc will result in a very strong array of oppositionists. Sir George Grey and the Superintendents referred to

have nothing in common but their objections to the abolition question, and without something more tangible as a groundwork the coalition hinted at could not stand very long even if effected. Sir George condemns the compact of 1856, and would like to see it repealed; his reputed coadjutors are favorable to the ratification of that compact, because it secures to them the control of their vast land revenues. What therefore could be expected from such an opposition? Nothing but disunion and disagreement, we fancy. There can be no opposition evolved out of the present parliament on the Public Works scheme. The Colony is committed to it b«dy and soul, and if the Ministry should be defeated,on this question it will be on the ground of administration, not on the policy. It will therefore bo seen- that, the prospects of an opposition, so far as it has been suggestod under the leadership of Sir GeqrgfljiGrey, is highly improbable, and noi^bther member has been indicated that we know of. It may be, however, that on the meeting of the Assembly some member will be nominated by common consent of those who are opposed to the. Ministry of the day, and thereafter, 1 as 'soon as the address in reply to the Governor's speech' has been passed, we may hear that the Hon. Mr Blank, "on making his first appearance as Leader of the Opposition, was very warmly cheered, and commenced by an appeal to the forbearance and favorable consideration of the House in his new position, confessing his inability to come up to the standard of his eminent predecessors, but that his best services should be at the command of the House to facilitate the despatch of public business." We say, such a circumstance may arise, and the words we have quoted (from the Marquis'of Hartington's speech on assuming the post of leader of the Liberal party in the House of Commons as successor to Mr Gladstone) or similar terms may be recorded ; but we doubt it, and we doubt still more the probability.that Sir George Grey will occupy that position, however eminently fitted for the office he may be, and no doubt is. New Zealand politics are not yet sufficiently matured for the formation of parties of such distinct types as those which have been foreshadowed by the friends of Sir George Grey, and we do not see that such a consummation would be either expedient or desirable, or calculated to facilitate the despatch of public business. We shall see, however.. Wei do not affect an ability to forecast the future, and- we are quite content to abide the issue of events so far as an organised opposition is concerned.

The other day in Auckland a number of milkmen were summoned for adulterating their milk, but the informations broke down through a technical error. The habitation of the Government analyst had not been gazetted, and this being provided for in the Act, the was* held to be fatal,' and the informations were withdrawn, This error will shortly be rectified, and no doubt the sharp policemen will soon have a fresh crop of cases. The milkmen have, received a warning, however, and'if they continue their dishonest practices of selling highly diluted milk for the genuine article, they will receive a further caution which will considerably reduce their profits, for Mr Beckham has notified that on conviction he will inflict the heaviest penalty allowed by the Act. The narrow escape of .the persons who supply Auckland citizens with the lacteal fluid ought to be a warning to men of the same calling on the Thames, who do not, we fear, always supply the genuine article fresh from the cow. We do not suppose that Thames milkmen are worse than others in the same business;, but we'do know that a very indifferent liquid is sold as milk, and that its poorness is very often put down to the score of bad feed. This will not avail the vendors of milk if water is detected in what they sell; and .owing 1 to the searching nature of the chemical analysis to which articles are subjected in order to test their genuineness, water I will be found if it be present. Milkmen here need not flatter themselves that they are secure; as they may be pounced upon at any time, and find.that in supplying a chance customer they have been the means of convicting themselves. Milkmen had better beware how they supply policemen, or they might fiad to their cost that instead of furnishing milk for the evening cup of tea they have v a wittingly rendered: themselves amenable to the rather stringent provisions of the Adulteration of Food Act.

So many Provincial Councils are now in session that it is not surprising we hear a great deal about the proposed abolition of Provinces. Each Superintendent in meeting his Council has more or loss to say of the proposal, and the Councils follow suit. Taken as expressions of opinions of the Councillors the views already declared may be all very good in their way, but we venture to say that in cases where the ; Councillors have pronounced views opposed to the abolition they do not represent the feelings enter^ tamed by their constituencies. It may be that Provincial Councillors imagine their utterances possess a greater significance than they do, but they should not forget that immediately after the close of the last Parliamentary session opinions very favorable to the abolition proposals were expressed all over the Colony, the principal objections urged being against the partial nature of the scheme. In Wellington the Superintendent appears to have the Council with him in opposition to the abolition scheme. In Canterbury and Otago the respective Superintendents have admitted the necessity for some change, and . the Councils of those Provinces have concurred, but with

certain reservations. Next we expect to have the opinion of the Auckland Council, and if Sir George Grey manages to win over the Council to his way of thinking, a very pronounced opinion may be expected. The real question, however, will be decided in the Assembly; it will be there that Provincialists and Centralists will enter the lists in defence of their opinions and pet schemes, and if wo are not- very much mistaken in our estimate, founded on observation of what has transpired during the recess, the principle of the resolution of last session will be reaffirmed, and something more will come of it than mere talk.