The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 6th, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 91, 6 April 1876, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, APRIL 6th, 1876.

In order to arrive at a proper estimate of the value to be placed upon the utterances of any'individual, itisneces- . c "l r Jri- fco ta^" e " tto account the position -(he character of that individual. In %Ah case, for instance, of a rumored uisturbance of the peace, or other international complication amongst the great powers of the world with what anxiety" is the word ofa Bismarck or a Disraeli watched for, ancl with what minuteness is it criticised when once spoken. It is known that the words of such men regarding every important event have been 'well considered and very likely fully discussed by their advisers or colleagues before being expi*essed. It. is also known that the whole power of the nation they -represent is at their command'to carry into practical effect the course of action at which perhaps they only very delicately hint. Not only are the" utterances of such men all important in consequence of the power with which they are invested, but also in consequence ot the character . for honesty and straight-forwardness-they have established for themselves. The object of their lives is fixed, tangible and definite, and themode by which it is sought to be accomplished is no changeable, haphazard, adventurous policy. It is the persistent pursuance of fixed principles which no force of .persuasion or opposition can ever induce them *to abandon. Their, aims are definite ; the mode they are sought to be attained are -equally fixed. By these they will stand -and succeed ;. or fail, rather, than change their prin- . 1 ciples or .position. With such a high standard of moral and political rectitude who would ever doubt the veracity of. such men ? Who would ever for a moment -imagine them .qiulty of tergiversation or deception ? Their wordis held as sacred, and in its plain corn-

mon-sense meaning is at once recognised as the embodiment of the simple truth, arid, as such, reliance is placed upon it. In how different a light do we regard the utterances of some of our -upstart Golonial political adventurers, by courtesy yclept statesmen** 1 ? Without any fixed philantrophic or beneficial aim in life, without any sound principle to guide their policy, they shift as a weathercock witti every breeze and every change of circumstance until it becomes impossible by any known sj'stem of reasoning* to harmonise their pa-st with their present policy, or to predict from either what it may be for the future. Undirected by any honorable principle or feeling, they toss about on the political ocean like a ship without a rudder — one direction to-day,, another to-morrow — their haven unknown and their course altogether il dependant upon circumstances." In their attempt to harmonise their various lines of action, they are forced to adopt so many subterfuges and exhibit so many contradictions and absurdities that they render themselves objects of contempt in the eyes of every rightthinking, observant, honest man. With such vacillation in the past lives of some of our politicians, it is impossible to discover any principle by which they have been .guided, or to .place the. slightest reliance upon what they may say as to their course for the future. Many honest, straightforward, hardworking politicians we have amongst us, who have devoted long . years of anxiety and exertion to farther the great work of colonisation, and build up the permanent institutions of their adotped country.- Others are not so, but are mere political adventurers, who have neither, stake nor interest in the country, but manage to make a very good living by imposing upon the credulity of the public, many of whom unfortunately are as yet too much engrossed in for-raing new homes for themselves and families to give that attention to politics which the subject deserves. The - most '.perfect embodiment of this class of .politician Sir Julius Yogel unquestionably is. How is it that his recent speech at Wanganui has been so variously read and translated by different men and 'different journalists? Simply because "Bis past utterances arid actions — his past life —

has been • one "series of contradictions and political -dishonesty* that now let him assert anything -whatever it will. credence 'unless there is the <.. longest corroborative -evidence. He has so oftep shifted his ground and -had recourse to so many tricks and surprises that no judgment can be formed of his future policy by anything he has said or done in the past, for example, immediately prior to his recent arrival from Great Britain, the ' Daily Times '

had a series of leading articles ably reviewing his past life and speeches, and from which our contemporary arrived at the honest and definite conclusion that Sir Julius would unhesitatingly join the Anticentralist party. Indeed, judging* from these speeches and actions no one could arrive at any other conclusion. Further, Sir Julius was nominated by the member fur the Provincial Council 'for 'the Clutha as a candidate for the representation of this' district in the House of Representatives, he believing Sir Julius to be a Provincialist, as the party was then called. At the same time he actually obtained the Wanganui seat as being the leader of the Centralist party. But 'this is not all. He as Premier has expounded the Government policy, and by the one party it is interpreted as a most efficient and satisfactory policy of local self-government, and by the other as the most arbitrary and centralising policy ever promulgated outside the boundaries of an autocracy. Why all this provoking doubt, hesitancy, and contradiction about what should be-so-plstin that the most ignorant could understand 1 . The present exigencies ofthe colony are such that it is imperative we should have au honest man as well as an able politician at tbe head of affairs — one whose word can be'trusted and whose action will be above-board and definite. It is degrading'to the colony to tolerate in the position of Premier a

man whose course of action exhibits so many discrepancies and contradictions, and whose solemn pledges in connection with the most important affairs of the nation are so lightly broken. In the estimation of some casual observers and shallow thinkers, Sir Julius "is clever j" that he is politically honest or trustworthy few will assert. We humbly think it is high time for the interests of the colony that men of such " clever " proclivities were discarded, and that men of sterling honesty and worth assumed the lead in political affairs.

Rumors were afloat during last session of Assembly to the effect that it was the intention ofthe Government to appoint Mr J. T. Thomson, Chief Corn-' missioner of the Otago Waste Lands Bonrd, to the ollice of Sur vej'or-Gene-ral for the Colony. It was also freely stated that the Chairmanship of the Board was then to be handed over to Mr Edward M'Glashan as a reward for the support he had given to the Government, and especially for his arduous exertions as Government whip throughout the session. Questions upon the subject were placed upon the order paper, but these only elicited the response that it was not the intention of the Government then to appoint a Sur-veyor-General. This silenced the questioners, but satisfied no one. So little faith was placed in anything said by the Government, that notwithstanding the repeated and definite replies, it was still believed that such an officer would be appointed, and that Mr J. T. Thomson would be that* officer. It is now reported by our Dunedin contemporaries that such an appointment has actually been made. This is another, added to the many previous instances, of want of candour on the part oi the gentlemen of the Colonial Executive. Few will have, fault to find with the appointment ; indeed it will be generally considered that Mr Thomson is better qualified fbr, and wili more ably and impartially carry out the duties of the new oflice than he has done those of the Chairman of the Waste Lands Board. Tiie name of -the gentleman whom' the Government may intend to honor with the appointment as Mr Thomson's successor in the Board has not yet transpired. It is well known that Shepherd, M'Glashan, and others, have long had promises of the first opening, but it is not credited' that even the present Government would dare to appoint such men to the office, more especially on the eve of a session of Parliament. There is one gentleman whose claims stand out pre-eminently above all others, and who, if the interests of this Colony, and the wishes of the inhabitants be in the least consulted, will be offered the appointment. We need not say that we refer to Mr Donald Reid. He has sometimp-s been accused of being self-willed and- dogmatic, but such --qualities, if exercisedin-the right direction, -are exactly those that are required in our public men ; in the present- crisis of the Colouy. Durin^ his whole public career, Mr Reid has been consistent, -straightforward, and sterling honest. He does not deal in questionable intrigues and low trickery as the manner of soriie is, and is therefore prompt and fearless in decision, and energetic in* action. He has ever ranged himself, and -generally as a leader on the side of the -people and their just rights. Although often in the minority, he has always associated himself with those who oppose the grasping power and aims of land monopolists. He is thoroughly acquainted with the history and present position of the* land laws of the Province, and has taken an active and honorable part in many a severely contested struggle to secure the settlement ofthe waste lands' by industrious men and women. -Tinder his guidance as Chairman of the Waste Lands Board, the whole body of the people would rest entirely satisfied that the land laws would be impartially administered, and, to the best of his ability, for the good of the. whole Province and people. There cannot be the slightest doubt that Mr Reid is the

man for the office, but there might be a difficulty ih his accepting it, and still continuing his seat in the Asembly and the Provincial Executive, We presume, however, this would refer more, to his drawing* the salary than accepting the office, and the difficulty might be got over in the meantime. If the difficulty should be found insuperable, then we should say the office might be offered to Mr J. P. Maitland, a well-' tried and faithful servant, and who in every respect in fully qualified forit, and would do it honor. Mr' Maitland has done good service to the Colony, and in carrjlng* out his multifarious duties, has gone through a great amount of hard work as well as suffered many inc6nveniencies It is

such as he who should have preferment as opportunities present themselves-, and by appointing such men as Mr Maitland to responsible and important offices, the Government would do much to secure the confidence of the public.

A series of long 1 telegrams have passed between Sir Julius Yogel and Sir George Grey regarding the financial position of Auckland. Sir George claims that the province is entitled to more funds than are placed to its-credit, and points out that the extravagant and unconstitutional expenditure of the General 'Government within the province is most injurious to the interests ofthe inhabitants, nnd will yet be productive of great evil. He considers it unfair that the province should be charged wiih the expense of this unconstitutional expense and mismanagement. "Sir Julius -evidently winces under the plain statements of the veteran Statesman, but endeavors to convert the castigation into fvin and redicule, -characterising Sir George's " notions " as "* extravagantly amusing." and so forth. He treats Sir George to slight courtesy; indeed, considering that he is writing to a gentleman, his language is extremely impertinent. In the estimation of some it will perhaps be regarded as a slight mitigation of the Premier's offence that he has not had much opportunity, and is never likely to have, of mingling in the society to which Sir George has been accustomed, and that he is therefore ncessarily ignorant of that courtesy and good manners practised amongst gentlemen. Sir Geoi'ge, however, evidently feels that this is not his fault, and declines to degrade himself by adopting a style of language such as would be understood by the Premier. He therefore on Monday evening brought the telegraphic squabble to.a.** close as follows :~— " I received on*, the* 28th ult. a telegram from you, which I replied to on the • 31st *ult„ If a fair consideration is given to the contents of that telegram,, it wiii be seen that ] have done all that a most rigid construction ofthe rules of courtesy could have required from me. Late on the evening of Saturday, the Ist instant, another telegram which, from its size, I believed had also come from you, reached me. I laid it aside until this 1 morning (Monday), and now, having satisfied myself from inquiries made at the Tele araph Office that -it really did come from you,and feeling that* courtesy makes no demand on me which! I have not already amply fulfilled, I have had the honor to return that telegram to you by post in the envelope in which I received it, that envelope remaining unopened.""