The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1286, 18 June 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1883.

t audit hi proposals, but simply to perfect j and complete the legislation of last | session. This line of action, however, j is contingent upon the Ministry having , a safe majority. Should they not j have a safe maiority their proposals, it is to he assumed, will vary accordingly, and the closer the numbers the more "startling" the pronouncements. Viewing the matter in this i light, the anxiety of the Colonial Treasurer to " have it out " at once is not hard to understand. Major * tkin son says in effect to the Opposition, " Show us how strong you are, and we will tell you what our policy is, and not before." This certainly does not harmonise very melodiously with the Ministerial utterances of a few weeks back. We were then told that the Government measures were all in a very forward stage of preparation, and 'would be laid before members at the earliest date/ so as to give the Opposition the fullest possible facility for attack. What can have occurred in the meantime to change all this ? But changed it is surely, for until the House has divided on Sir George Grey's motion re Land Tax the Government refuse to submit their measures. The opening is hardly an auspicious one for the Government, and it is clear that" the session is not to be a bed of roses. To-morrow will be the real opening day, and may therefore be expected to bring about some fresh development of the coming storm.

What may be termed the "first brush " of the session took place on Friday last in the House between the Ministry and Opposition. Sir George Grey asked for some explanation in reference to a previous remark of the Colonial Treasurer's touching the Land Tax question, when Major Atkinson " fired np " with his usual ardour, and drew the Ministerial coat-tails across the floor of the House for Sir George Grey to tread upon. The veteran Knight, however, declined the bellicose invitation, remarking that he would take his own time and his own opportunity for pushing the assault. It is quite evident from the nature of the notices of motion given by both Hir George Grey and Mr Montgomery that a concerted attack is meditated '•>y the Opposition, and, it would seem, „;th some sort of agreement between fc];« " rival chiefs." The desire of the Government seems to be to have a 1 rial of strength at the earliest possible Moment, with the double object, no <i mbt, of obtaining a view of the oiemy's hand, and subsequently pliaping the Ministerial policy so as to siit the temper of the House. We luve already been told that the disf of the Government is not to king forward any startling or ad rap