Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1886. “Weakening on It.”

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1805, 10 March 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1886. “Weakening on It.”

Our American cousins have a very expressive phrase which they use to indicate retreating from a determination previously formed, or abandoning a position previously taken up. They say of a man who adopts this course, “ that he has weakened on it.” That is exactly what our “ Ministry of all the talents ” has recently done. A few weeks back Ministers were eager for an immediate dissolution of Parliament and an appeal to the country. One after another several ef the members of the Government declared in their public speeches to the electors that the one thing needful for the salvation of the country was a dissolution to take effect at once. Of course the natural inference from ell those declarations was that Ministers would ask bis Excellency to grant a dissolution before Parliament was again called together, so that they might go to the country with a complete declaration of policy and take its vcuiict at the polling booths in a general election. We certainly thought then, and think still, that the best course to adopt was to have a dissolution at ouce. But within the last few days a change has come over the spirit of the Ministerial dream. Ministers have had it hinted to them, through some occult means, that if they asked his Excellency for a dissolution to take effect before Parliament was again called together, their request was not likely to be granted. Now, in the event of a dissolution being refnsed when asked for, Ministers would have no resort open to them save that of resigning office. They, of course, do not want to do anything of the sort. On the contrary, they are resolved to stick to their billets as long as they can. And so it happens that with regard to their intention of asking for a dissolution. Ministers “ have weakened on it," ami will not make any such request. There will not therefore be any dissolution at present, but the next session of the present Parliament will probably be held in May, when Ministers will have an opportunity of placing their policy before the House. It that policy be the same as what Ministers have lately sketched forth in their speeches, we do not think the House will accept it. A powerful party in Parliament is opposed to an extravagant loan, and the construction of works such as the East and West Coast Bailway; while we believe that any policy of ” Protection ’’ such as was proposed last session, would be rejected in a very summary fashion. In the case of Ministeis having their policy once more defeated, they would then be compelled either to ask for a dissolution and an appeal to the country, or else throw up the sponge altogether and resign unconditionally, leaving the way open for their successors. It would have been far better to have had a dissolution at oflee, bat looking to the present aspect of political affairs, we are inclined to think that although that desire is not to be realised just now, yet a dissolution ere long is certain to take place.