POLITICAL PARTIES IN NEW ZEALAND.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 30 January 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL PARTIES IN NEW ZEALAND.

+ ' ■ In the Jnnuary number of the ' Mel» bourne Eeview ' is a paper ty Mr Stout on " Political Parties in New Zealand," which is thus summarised by the Age : — ' Mr Stout gives a complete history of the political struggles of the last ten years in that Colony. In 1869 a new departure in polities took place : the central Govern- \ ment undertook great public works, and after a lengthy contest a Bill for the abolition of the Provinces was introduced and carried in 1875. The remainder of the paper is devoted to the Grey Minis* try and its attempt at electoral reform, land reform, re-adjustment of taxation, and administrative reform. There, as in Victoria, the land question underlies all others, and the real cause of the overthrow cf the Grey Cabinet may be traced to the hostility of the land-owning classes, who were taxed by it for the first time. One unpleasant feature of political life in New Zealand is depicted, but not commented upon by Mr Stout. The defeat of the Gr^y Ministry was brought about by the Conservatives buying over the votes of members by lavish promises of railways and public works in their districts. The Hall Cabinet was then formed, but the Liberal party was still strong enough to threaten it, when a secret negotiation was carried on between the Ministry and some of ths prominent members of ttfe'Opposition, and the re» su't was that four Auckland members made 'an arrangement ' with the Minis try. Ths bargain was in writing, marked confidential and has not yet been pub* lished. .... Thus, for a second time votes had been secured on the promise of the expenditure of public money. The hope of the Liberals is now set upon the 'Young New Zealand' party, consisting for the most part of young men who have never yet held office,'