Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1897. A MAJORITY OF SIX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5777, 30 October 1897, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1897. A MAJORITY OF SIX.

Tin; Premier hits courted a test division in tbe House, and has found that by doing some violence to the consciences of several of his supporters lie possesses a majority of six, Sic transit ijloria wnndi! Mr Scddou but a few weeks ago was received as n, triumphal hero 011 his return to Wellington, and was apparently in the plenitude of bis power and prestige, and now he has to put pressure on his party to retain the income which he enjoys as an agent of tho Anglo-German mining syndicate, Six votes is a miserably small majority for tho Premier, and a very unsafe one. Three or four membeis of his party are now in a position to dictate fenns to hiin or to turn him out of office.

Of course six votes constitute a substantial working majority, and Mr Seddon is as yet undefeated. But he is on the down grade, and tho members of bis party are no longer afraid of him. On tho contrary, be has reason to be afraid of them, and to look forward with 'apprehension to the next test vote. If that happens to be Horowhenua, his majority is likely to show a further shrinkage, A few more victories like the 0110 he snatched on Thursday last will bo fatal to his position.

Mr Hogg nnd other supporters of tho Government expressed themselves adversely against Mr Seddon's couneclion with the Anglo-German Syndicate, but voted for him ratlior than give the Opposition an opportunity to defeat tho Ministry. Their words went in ono direction and their votes in another, Mr Sligo, tho newly elected member Dunedin, said lie had felt tlio pulso of his constituency on this question and found that it was against Mr Setklon. Many members who have pulled tbe Premier through this difficulty will begin to wonder what the pulse of their own constituencies will bo like and whether it will beat in tlio same direction as Duncdin. They fear Mr Seddon much, but they dread their constituents more, and the members of tho left wing will not bo the last seceders from tho Ministerial Party. Tbe Ministry still make every effort to increaso taxation and its myrmidons are even now engaged screwing up valuations all over tho country as a basis for future Government and local levies. Tbe country is getting sick of Seddonism at last, and the majority which yet supports the Ministry iu the House is proportionally larger than the majority which backs him up in the country. Tbe turn of tho tide is plain enough, and it is only a question of a j little time for the Premier to find himself stranded. He will, however, fall on his feet, and will, when he gives up power, have a very comfortable nest to fall back upon. The political upheaval is not confined to New Zealand alone, but is more or less in evidence throughout Australasia, more especially in New South Wales and Tasmania. The political pendulum always swings back in due course, and although it. has had in Few Zealand a tremendous swing in one direction, it is now coming back swiftly and surely. In the Mother Country, prosperity hup been secured by deposing from power political agitators and adventurers, and Australasia seems likely to follow the very excellent example set in England, ' Even Mr Seddon is at bottom a mere political adventurer, and has done better for himself than for the Colony,