THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1088, 17 May 1882, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1882.

The eighth Parliament of New Zealand will jnee-fc to-morrow, and the impending political campaign promises to ne one of the most exciting that has -taken place for years. There are, it is true, several most important questions to be dealt witb, but there are none that have yet cropped up sufficiently "broad to constitute distinct parties. It is rather a struggle for ofiice, on the one hand, and a desire to retain it on the other, that has so far characterised the utterances of the successful candidates at the last elections. The Native policy, under the able leadership of the present Native Minister, has been more than an unqualified, it has 1-een a pronounced success, Sir Arthur Gordon ■notwithstanding, The action tliat the Minister of Mines has taken in fostering the Goldfields industries of the Colony, has won him golden opinions ; •whilst the financial success of the Treasurer, Major Atkinson, in converting annual deficite into annual "balances to credit, cannot be overrated or misunderstood. There is a very convincing logic in facts and figtires, though it is said that the latter can be manipulated to mean anything. Still the most astute financier, with the Argus-eyes of the House upon him, to say nothing about a hostile Press, cannot much mislead the New Zealand public, and if he shows a considerable credit, instead of a deplorable balance on the wrong side of the

Colonial ledger, he is likely to be believed implicitly. At the same time, it cannot be denied that tlie presont Cabinet contains many elements of weakness, and that it will sustain the assaults certain to be made on it, is far from assured. Granting that Messrs i Atkinson, Rolleston and Bryce are towers of strength in themselves, the hon. the Premier, the Colonial Secretary, and Mr Oliver are the very opposite. With the Hon. John Hall the consistency of the Ministry fell so far as preserving their unity was concerned. No one could suppose the late Premier a brilliant man, but all know him to be honest and pains-tak-ing — one who acted conscientiously and honorably according to his own ideas, and if he committed a fault it was one of error, and not of intention. His bitterest political enemies sincerely respected him in private life, and genial John Hall will long, it is to be hoped, occupy a seat in the Legislature, if not sitting on the Ministerial benches. The present Premier is as nearly the antithesis of his predecessor as can well be imagined in all particulars that won the hearts of late Parliaments. He has none of the bonhotnme that disarmed opposition. He is a hard, dry old lawyer, without even the aappearr r ance of gowf^iiiture, rfnd without tffe affectation of it. He, moreover, at present holds no seat in the 'House of Representatives, and can only appear amongst the collection of old fossils that at present compose the Legislative Council. The duty of leading the Government forces in the representative chamber must, therefore, devolve on one of his colleagues, and there is no one, however able, that has the tact and good temper necessary for such a position. All the capacity iv the world is not sufficient to tide over the badgering that a Premier has to submit to, and his deputy must have an unusual amount of patience, as well as ability, to come successfully through the ordeal. The Hon; Mr Dick is such an exceedingly goody-goody individual that, however respected he may be, he is not at all likely to obtain active political support from any large section of the House. Mr Oliver will be " kept steadily in view," for many a long day, but he will never command any following in Parliament. He may be an excellent man, as far as Departmental work is concerned, but he is nothing more, and as a member has been a decided failure. It remains then the Premier is not trusted, that soma of his subordinates are incapable and that actually on three members of the Cabinet the responsibility really rests. Messrs Rolleston, Atkinson, and Bryce will fight the battle manfully, there can be little doubt, but the probability is that they will have to succumb before the contest is over, to superior forces. The only hope is that a Coalition Cabinet will be constructed, having for its leading elements these politicians, and that no attack that will be made will be able to unseat them. .If the Premier, and Messrs Dick and ' liver go, the loss to the country will not be great, but men of the other stamp it cannot afford to lose. Work will only begin in Parliament on Tuesday next All must watch with great anxiety how it I progresses.