The Political Situation.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5280, 10 June 1895, Page 4

The Political Situation.

(Lyttelton\Times.) The Government will meet the House of Representatives next week ; in an even stronger position than the one it occupied when Parliament assembled last year. The policy endorsed by the constituencies at the general election has been continued in its integrity and cautiously developed. Daring last session the cheap money scheme was embodied in legislation, and is now within reach of the people it was intended to relieve. Laud settlement on truly Liberal lines has been extended, and the administration of the Government has been marked by j success in almost every department. j Speaking generally, therefore, the | Government will be able during the ' approaching session to appeal to the i Liberal Party, not only on platform j pledges, but also on legislative and ; administrative achievements. The : Opposition, on the other hand, is — ;bo far as the popular Chamber is I concerned— completely disorganised. | By the success of the tbree-per-cent . loan it has lost the last vestige of an excuse for its fervid attacks upon the Government, and its leader is now seeking what consolation he can | obtain from votes of thanks and confidence from his personal friends in the rural districts of Hawke's Bay. Even Dr Newman, who seldom hesi- | tatea to rush in where wiser men ; would fear to tread, is silent, and Mr George Hutchison has turned his attention — with profit, we trust, both to himself and the public— from the affairs of the State to the business of the Midland Railway Company. The [ Opposition in the nominated Chamber j is, of course, much stronger ; indeed, ;it is not too much to say that the j Liberal measures adopted by the j representatives of the people will still j be at the mercy of the Conservative j " lords," and it might save much valuable time if Mr Scddon at once took steps to increase the representation of his party in the Upper House. The creation of three or four Liberal Councillors, while still leaving the balance of power in the hands of the ! Conservatives, would have a very salutary effect upon the attitude of the majority. But this is a matter which Mr Seddon is not likely toover- ! look. Under ordinary circumstances ■= it would be a matter for regret that • the Opposition in the Lower | House, which may be regarded jas tho "audit" department of ; Parliament, is so weak; but in the present case the dominant party is I fully alive to its responsibilities, and I is not likely to be led into any legisla- [ tive or financial excesses. The chief i measures of next session will probably 'be the Tariff Bill, the Licensing Bill ■ and the Local Government Bill. It |ia gratifying to kaow that at last a serious attempt is to be made to remove the inequalities and anomalies which abound in the present tariff. The Licensing Bill will, of course, I attract a large share of attention, but I the chief proposal of the session will, | we expect, be the Local Government j Bill. It is a pity, we think, that this measure has not already been circulated, in order that its provisions might be carefully scrutinised by the electors, and particularly in order that the experience of people outside the walls of Parliament might be brought to bear upon the work of amendment. Nothing has yet been allowed to leak out as to its provisions, but it is an open secret that the Premier, who is in charge of the measure, favours the merging of a number of the smaller bodies into larger ones. We shall not be surprised if Mr Seddon should propose to replace the present county system by a modified form of provincialism, and to grant the people power to amalgamate Bomo of the existing local bodies. In addition to the practical measures we have alluded to, advanced Liberals will, no doubt, expect something to be done regarding old age pensions, and towards the solution of the unemployed difficulty. These questions may be considered by many as scarcely within the range ot practical politics, but Liberalism is progressive, and Mr ! Seddon and his colleagues cannot afford to stand still. They have already accomplished a great deal in the interests of the masses of the people, and we have no doubt that they will continue to display the energy, ability and courage that have ; so far distinguished their administration. 1

»