THE DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 8, 13 June 1884, Page 15

THE DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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HE defeat of the Government by a majority of nine is under the circumstances extraordinary, and so far as the interests of the country are concerned very serious. It is, in our opinion, little i calculated to promote the interests of the country. We fail to see what is to be gained by it. Undoubtedly, there must be now a general election ; and there will probably be a change of Ministry. But what about the real interests of the country. Necessary legislation, economy, public works, etc., must ali be put in abeyance, whilst party fights for office to the gain of no one concerned except place-holders. There is really no question of public policy at stake. There is hardly any one measure advocated by the Opposition that the Ministerial party is not, under gentle pressure, prepared to accept and vice versa. Nor does it appear that the Opposition is likely to afford any better or wiser administrators than the Government party. For these reasons we think a mistake has been committed in pvecipitating a crisis, and the House of Representatives should have gone on with the necessary business of the country, and allowed Parliament to dissolve by effluxion of time. Nor is there any probability that a general election will very greatly change the representation. For the most part the present representatives will be returned at the next elections, and the same persons will confront each other in. the House of Representatives. Under these circumstances we fail to see what the country is in any way likely to gain by a dissolution at the present time, whilst it is obvious to common sense that it must lose a great deal. "We are not impelled to write thus from any prejudice in favour of the Atkinson Government and party. In that Government are to be found some of the ablest and most determined enemies to justice to Catholics on the education question, and it gives us real pleasure to think that these gentlemen must soon be compelled to ran the gauntlet of a general election, and we hope all really liberal electors will give them a warm reception on the hustings and in the polling booths. But there is not the least reason for imagining that, so far as Catholics are concerned, the new Government will be one whit more just or politic than their predecessors. Certainly, so far as we are ourselves concerned, we

would sooner vote for Major Atkinson than for either Sir George Grey, Mr. Montgomery, or Mr. Macandbbw, or any of their satellites. Mr. Atkinson is not so bigoted as these gentlemen, and we would prefer him to any or all of them. At the same time even he is not heroic enough to pursue justice, if the pursuit cost him the loss of place and power. It is to be hoped that during the crisis Catholic electors will bear in mind the names of the gentlemen who have steadily voted to compel them to pay for the free and godless education of other people's children, and to impose on them in addition the burden of double taxation, simply because they are conscientious and unwilling to look on calmly whilst the faith of their children would be undermined in Government schools. Catholic voters would do well to reflect on this fact viz., that it is quite immaterial which party is in power, so far as the general interests of the country are concerned, and that therefore mere party considerations may be flung to the winds. But it is all-important for them to vote, so as if possible to defeat eyery candidate who opposes justice to their schools. Many who will certainly be candidates are well known, and we think it will be conceded on all hands rthat some amongst them are not only enemies of justice, but devoid of every principle except the principle that takes care of No. 1. Electors of all parties should be on their guard against such as these.