THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. Established 1868. PUBLISHED WEDNEDAY and SATURDAY. Vincit Amor Patriae. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1896.

Western Star, Issue 2087, 22 February 1896, Page 2

THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. Established 1868. PUBLISHED WEDNEDAY and SATURDAY. Vincit Amor Patriae. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1896.

Some months ago the papers teemed with glowing reports of the healthy and firm tone of the grain market. That was when farmers had cleared their stocks, and the business was being done by the brokers. Now we are approaching the time when the season’s crops will b*e on the market again, the reports are of a totally different color. We read that the demand for old oats has decreased, buyers preferring to wait for the new supplies, and at the same time we are informed that prices for oats are declining, while wheat is 6d cheaper. We have watched this little game for some years now, so that the news is no surprise. It is an oft-told tale, with a plot so deep as to be beyond the comprehension of the ordinary reader. It is about time the farmers commenced to take united action to investigate the business. They are the loosers, and the profits which should come to them by the operation of the law of supply and demand goes into other pockets. Because brokers and certain papers state with an air of authority that * the market price of grain is so much a bushel, is that the true price 1 If so, how comes it that the market invariably rises when the needy farmer has disposed of his stock ? We emphatically state that the true price is not always revealed, and incline to the belief that a ring work the market for their own benefit. This is a matter that the Agricultural Department might well enquire into. Information respecting peculiar insects, the causes of disease in stock and such like knowledge is valuable in its way, but more valuable still to the farmer would be information showing how he might dispose of his year’s products with a chance of getting a return which his industry entitles him to. Depressed prices have brought this country at times to a very low ebb, and if the interests of farmers are not watched in this respect, the country can never prosper, even if we had the most perfect system of Government in the world.

We have received from the Government printer the printed correspondence in connection with the case of one McCarthy, who was arrested at Wairnate on a charge of murder, and acquitted at the Supreme Court sittings held at Timaru, before Mr Justice Denniston. Prom a hurried perusal, of this we gather that McCarthy was arrested on the flimsiest evidence, the theory of the police being that the man found dead had gone to McCarthy’s house, had created some sort of a row, and had received blows from which he died on the road. There was absolutely nothing, according to the judge, to connect McCarthy with the crime except the fact that he had spoken to the man a short time before his death, and the Grand Jury, by direction, brought in no bill. After his discharge from custody McCarthy made a claim for LIOO as compensation, some LBO of which was for legal expenses he had incurred. In his correspondence with the Minister for Justice he complains of the way the police fry to sheet home a crime upon a person. Evidence calcui lated to incriminate they spare no pains to accumulate, but do not try to collect evidence likely to clear a suspected person. This is altogether onesided, and in the interests of justice and the liberty of the individual we think the State is in duty bound to provide persons accused of crimes, the penalty for which is death or a long term of imprisonment, with the means necessary for proving their in* nocence. We are quite aware that the police have got to prove the guilt of an accused, but in some cases it might be impossible for a poor man to clear himself from the chains of circumstantial evidence. The Crown should at least provide an accused with a counsel.

Peom 1854 to the present time Mew Zealand has had 12 Parliaments and 27 ministries. The longest lived ministries were the Stafford, which reigned five sessions, the Hall, which held office for four sessions, and the Seddon, which, inclusive of the late Mr Ballance’s term, will have occupied the Government benches for six sessions at the termination of the one for 1896. Judging by the past we may fit airly assume that a change in the personnel of the present Cabinet is imminent. We do not say that the ponsonsus of pnblic opinion, as far as

ve are able to guage it, foreshadows i complete ievolution. Such has aeen predicted, and the activity of what is called the Nationalist party seems to point to a desire for a totally new ministry in some quarters. Be that as it may, before the Nationalist party can hope to assume the reigns of Government they will have to propound a policy that will prove acceptable to the electors. Xu the absence of I a policy, we incline to the belief, that after the forthcoming general election we shall see a re-constructed or coalition ministry which will include some of the present members and probably Sir Robert Stout and others from the Middle Party, and Captain Russell. At present there are three Cabinet vacancies to be filled with the prospect of two more at an early date, one at least for certain. Any choice made by the Premier now, when so near an election, would not be acceptable, and few candidates would pledge themselves to support men who were only in their ministerial novitiate. Of course all this is problematical, but it is the couclusion we draw from the facts which are at present before us. The recent election at Christchurch shows that the electors are certainly sick of party government, and a coalition would be the forerunner of an Elective Executive. The Government tried bard to win, and spared

neither expense nor trouble to return Sydenham Taylor, and in doing this they in effect said to the colony at large “ Never mind what the man is like; put him in, pledged to support us.” The Nationalists were equally guilty of a like absurdity, for they, aided by the anti-prohibitionists, returned a man practically unknown in the sphere of politics and who may or may not be a dummy, pledged up to the hilt to kick the Seddonites out of office, the welfare and interests of the colony being secondary considerations.. We have it on the authority of several members of the House that a general election is not so far off as is generally imagined, and at this juncture it would be well for electors to seriously consider the question of parliamentary independence. Men should ba chosen who will study measures not men, and be free to voice the opinions which their consciences tell them are true. Under existing conditions many representatives are little better than automatons, who, like the Admiral in Pinafore, always vote at their party’s call. [Since writing the foregoing the following re-arrangement of portfolios has been made: —Mr Carroll takes Cabinet rank, with the Cabinet rank of Commissioner of Stamps. Mr Hall-Jones, of Timaru, becomes Minister of Justice. The Hon. W. C. Walker takes a seat without portfolio, and MrT. Thompson, of Auckland, has been offered a similar position in the Lower House. This arrangement of portfolios is temporary, being subject to readjustment by the Cabinet. The question of the Attorney-Generalship was held over for further consideration. With these appointments the Ministry is now one in excess of what is allowed by the Ministers Salaries and Allowances Act, 1887, which provides for the salaries of six ministers in addition to the Premier. If the Attor-ney-General is also appointed there will be two iff excess, so that it looks like other resignations.]