The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1879.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 114, 15 October 1879, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1879.

Advices from Wellington of events in the political world are so uncertain, and so colored in the interest of the opposing parties, that it is at all times difficult to form a correct opinion of what is going on. It is especially difficult to do so now when parties are so evenly divided, that it is very doubtful on which side the majority lies. From our correspondent at Wellington we learn that it is tolerably certain the Hall Ministry will have but a brief span of life. The members of the Ministry are all of them very estimable men, and they would doubtless constitute a good administration. But, unfortunately, they are not generally popular and oven if they are successful in the impending division, in all probability they will find themselves unable to keep a working majority together. This is a matter to be regretted by those who have the interests of the colony at heart, and whose political convictions do not take the character of prejudice. One of the great causes of the purity of the English Parliament is the constant change in the parties which administer the Government. Similarly here, it would not be in the interests of the colony that one section of political opinion should exercise a continuous influence on Parliament. But more than this, the Ministry of Sir George Grey were turned out of office, not because of their policy, but because of their corrupt administration. They were accused of spending money without the consent of Parliament; of unduly distributing patronage to their political friends; and of using the influence and machinery of the Government to secure the return to the House of their Own supporters. On such an

indictment, by a majority of two, the representatives of this colony declared that Sir George Grey’a Government had forfeited the confidence' . of the House. Now that Mr Hall has possession of the Treasury benches, the country will expect that these chargee against the Grey Government will be thoroughly siffed. Sir George Grey retires from the leadership of his party in favor of Mr Macandrcw. The change will unquestionably be a benefit to the party, though as long as Sir George remains in the House, he cannot fail to be regarded as the unofficial leader of his party. In such a position he would be a weakness to any Ministry formed from the present Opposition benches. Major Atkinson, the Colonial Treasurer, has made the ominous statement that the finances of the colony are in a very embarrassed condition, requiring tho urgent consideration of the House. As an old Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson would not have imperilled the new loan by hazarding such a statement, were he not in a position to prove it. The results of the borrowing policy of the past nine years are now beginning to be seen. We are burdened with an enormous debt; with depressed trade, and a large deficiency in the revenue, we are coolly asking the English capitalist to lend us more. Amid all tho discussions as to who shall occupy the Treasury benches, there is scarcely a word heard of increased taxation. Such a cry is a most unpopular one, no man likes to think of an increase to his already heavy burdens. But it must bo dealt with. We cannot go on for ever spending our capital (the land fund) for tho ordinary purposes of the country, while at the same time we are borrowing money for public works. It would be no unimxed evil were tho loan —now authorised —to be raised with such difficulty, as to show our financiers in what light New Zealand loans are regarded by the English capitalist. We trust the members of the House will, with the Treasurer, give their best consideration to our financial position, a matter which, to our mind, is of infinitely more importance than any subject which is likely to come before them.