Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1881.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 22 July 1881, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. " NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1881.

The Want of Confidence debate is not yet concluded, and the issue therefore remains still in doubt. Certainly the position of the Ministry is not desperate ; indeed it seems that the probabilities are in their favour. Supposing Mr Ormond's amendment were to be carried, and, further, that instead of asking for a dissolution, Mr Hall were at once to tender his resignation, what would be the next act in the political drama? We presume that Mr Ormond would be sent for, and that if so he would endeavour to form a Ministry. In that part of his task he might perchance succeed ; but forming a Ministry and commanding a working majority of the House are two very different matters, and though the new Premier might be equal to the one there is every reason to believe that he would fail in the other. We do not forget that it has been the fashion lately in some quarters to speak of Mr Ormond as the coming man who is to consolidate the Opposition and make united action practicable. We confess to being totally unable to take that view of the case. If his amendment is to be carried he must go into the lobby with a mixed multitude — some who do not even want the present Government to be ousted ; some who sigh for a return to Provincialism as it formerly existed ; a few, like Sir George Grey, who profess, to think that we had not enough of local government under the Provincial regime ; some who merely think that the Ministerial proposals do not go as far as they might ; and some who do not care two straws for the country, but believe their own chances of advancement would be greater if the Hall Ministry were out. As soon as the division was over those various sections would return to precisely the same position they occupied when Mr Ormond moved his amendment. In short, our surprise would be great if, after getting his portfolios allocated, he were not assured of the hopelessness of his task before a week had gone by. He might name others to take his place, but would their chances be greater than his own ? Sir George Grey will give a loyal support to no Ministry of which he is not the chief. Mr Sheehan is not to be thought of for a leader : Mr Ballance would not command the allegiance of half-a-dozen. After a vexatious and expensive delay, Mr Hall might return to office before the end of the present session, and the proposals which have caused this disturbance, and given a semblance of cohesion to the Opposition, might be carried with a few amendments. A great deal has been said about the dissatisfaction of the country with the present system of local government, but by far the greater part of these utterances is untrue. Local government has, on the whole, worked well, and the people have not the slightest wish to exchange their existing institutions for Superintendents and Provincial Councils with legislative powers. The real grievance in the country is the want of money for public works. If funds had been plentiful, if the General Government had been able to deal out large subsidies, we should not have heard a word of complaint. Not one of the numerous suggestions which have been made since the commencement of this debate has shown where or how more money is to be had. Each man believes, or professes to believe, that his plan would have the effect of enriching the various districts, but the very diversity and multitude of the plans show how weak a foundation they rest on. Major Atkinson was right when he warned the House and the country that if money was to be spent it must come out of the pockets of the taxpayers. The country is being educated to that belief. It is hard to make people believe that the golden stream of the borrowed millions has run dry, and that, out of the first proceeds of taxation, £1,500,000 has to be sent Home to pay interest. They admit these things as general propositions, but it does not make the burden any lighter to be borne, and does not stay the railing of the people at a Government which does not provide ample means for a lavish public expenditure throughout the length and breadth of the land. But there is no source from which such ample means can be derived ; and to us it seems that the Government proposals did about as much as could, reasonably have been expected.