THE POLITICAL CONFLICT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 340, 24 October 1879, Page 14

THE POLITICAL CONFLICT

It is no exaggeration to say that the people of New Zealand stand aghast at the contemplation of the state of things prevailing in our House of Representatives. The business of the country is at a stand still, the finances are in a deplorable gtate, public work-, in the counties have been stopped, people ■who for years have clamoured for 1-uul in several parts of the country, particularly in the gold fields, cannot obtain an acre. Men arc nut of employment, there k universal stagnation in business, ami notwithstanding all tli.s, parties in the Legislature do nothing but squabble as to who shall sit on the Treasury

benches. It is not very easy to decide which party is most to blame, but there is no reason, apart from mere party considerations, why the Government should not at once have met the No-Confidence motion like honourable men and all decent politicians. It is no excuse to say that in their present tactics they are only following the example of their predecessors. A bad example should never be followed. A similar state of things would be an impossibility in the British Parliament, and could only exist among pettifogging politicians. It was the duty of the Government to have at once suspended all other business, and met the No-Confidence motion with a direct negative. During the debate they could have fully explained their policy and measures, and thus given the House data on which to come to a decision as to the relative claims of parties.

In saying this, we disclaim all party bias, or any, even the least, desire for the return to power of the late Ministry. Indeed we hope that some of that Ministry shall never again be permitted to hold a portfolio in any Ministry. But we have no confidence in coalitions, or reconstructions which amount to coalitions. The history of such governments is not re-assuring ; they have never been strong or durable. If the result of a No-Confidence debate or division should be the confirmation in power of the Hall Ministry, we should not complain of or regret such an event. But, in common with the public of New Zealand, we desire some Government strong enough to transact the business of the country. There has been a meeting of certain Dunedin gentlemen who are alarmed at the present state of things and, unbidden by any large section of their fellow- citizens, have taken upon themselves to telegraph to the representatives of this city to vote for the Hall Ministry or for a coalition government. We wonder if these were amongst the gentlemen who have contributed so largely to bring about the present obstruction to all legislation by their insensate hatred of Sir G. Grey. We do not know ; but we do know that the conduct of men who, few in number, and representing nobody, undertake to give instructions to the three representatives of this city, is supremely absurd. The proper comse to have adopted would have been to call a public meeting of the citizens, and hear what they had to say upon the subject. Looking at the conflict in Parliament as outsiders, we perceive that the Ministry is in a considerable minority, and are consequently amazed at finding such a man as Mr. Hall clinging with desperate tenacity to the treasury benches. We are also astonished that the Governor permits such a state of things to continue. We know his position is a difficult and delicate one, but it appears to us that a ministry in a minority should not be permitted to remain an hour in office. Such a state of things would not be tolerated for a moment in England, and, indeed, would be impossible there, on account of the high principles of honour and consistency of her leading politicians, and the evident absurdity of the thing. We cannot bnt believe that both Mr. Hall and the Governor think on this subject as we do, and we are driven, therefore, to the conclusion that there are some considerations in the back-ground carefully concealed from the public, why this anomalous state of things is permitted to continue. But these are not the only persons on whom must fall the chief blame. The constituencies permitted themselves, during the late elections, to be drawn away from great broad plain issues, by side issues, bigotry, and a desire to trample on the rights and plunder the pockets of a considerable section of their fellow-citizens. They are now reaping the reward of their injustice and folly. And this is but the beginning of many a deadlock, if secularists persevere in their determination to play the tyrant over the consciences of their Catholic fellowcitizens.