The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2867, 27 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

There is a certain class of men who seem horn fault finders. are generally gifted with average ability. In many cases they have been fairly successful in life, and it may be owing to this that, when they turn their attention from their own affairs to politics, they see so much at variance with the plodding to which they have been accustomed, that everything looks wrong to them. Mr Reid is one of this class. He does not disagree with public works, but then they should be conducted as he thinks right. He does not disagree with immigration: but then it must be managed according to his system : he is most anxious for settlement of the country, but it must be on his terms : the land laws of the Province require administration, but only as he would have them. Consciously or unconsciously this same uncompromising egotism runs through his system of opposition. He can see no good in those who do not fight in the same ranks with himself; and unless he can have his way, he would bring the whole machinery of Government to a deadlock. Nobody who reads Mr Reid’s speeches at Outram and Mosgiel will refuse him credit for knowledge of political science. He admits the necessity for railways, population, extension of commerce and education. In some of his views he is in advance of the present Government. He would be quite content to forward every proposition they have brought forward foxpublic works, but he must have them prosecuted in his own fashion. And this brings us to Mr Reid’s groat defect : ho docs not toll us what the fashion is. For himself he lays down as a rule by which he judges the ability of men, and the goodness of their measurers —Success—a very good rule, which can be equally applied to his own political career and the party with whom he acts, as to that of his opponents. Judged by this standard, Mr Reid has signally failed. He took office in the Provincial Government, and ever since that time, so far as it has been able to aid progress, the Province has been at a standstill. No great measure has succeeded. The only works of magnitude that have been done—the Port Chalmers Dock and Railway—he cannot take credit for, as one was initiated before he took office, and the other was undertaken almost in the face of his opposition. And as to the Clutha Railway, he tried his hand

long enough at that, and utterly failed. Nor has he been more fortunate as a financier and land reformer. Under his manipulation the Province became j nearly bankrupt, and for three years he has been engaged in a struggle with the Colonial Legislature, that seems very likely to result in the management of our waste lauds being taken out of our hands altogether. Thus the rule “ success ” condemns him equally with the statesman whom he supports, Mr Stafford. That gentleman undertook to save a vast sum of money, and in doing so involved the country in ten times the expense he condemned. He undertook to conquer a peace, but only involved the Colony in war. He undertook to break the power of Provincialism, but only succeeded in strengthening it. Surely Mr Reid has- not applied his rule success ”to the present Administration, or he would have attached himself to them and supported them. They undertook to conquer the Maoris by peace, and they have done so. They undertook to introduce measures for developing the country, and introducing immigrants, and they succeeded in passing them. They undertook the construction of railways, and as far as time would permit, they have succeeded. At any rate, whether they are wise or foolish, “ success has been theirs. Ultimate success depends very much upon the support and co-opera-tion they receive in the country. It is very unfortunate that representative governments have no means of remitting the execution of works of public utility to the management of competent persons not liable to be influenced by popular clamor or party feeling. Mr Reid laid upon the shoulders of the Government the charge ot giving way to pressure in regard to certain projected railways in the North Island. Did he do his best to help them to resist this pressure ? He seems to forget how many miles of roads are occasionally sanctioned in the Provincial Council which are never made. Tin original project was to construct sc many miles of railway annually foi some ten years—a good arrangement not likely to involve the Colony in anj difficulty, because if carried out, popu lation and employment will keep pac( with each other. Mr Reid has showi no good reason why the present Govern ment should not be entrusted witl working out their own scheme. A any rate, until the Opposition car shew a better way, the Executive maj be quite content to test their com pa rative merits by the standard Mr Reii lino laid down. Tims “ success ” ii the face of difficulties has been achieved and thus far the Opposition leaden have been remarkable for want o “ success.” Without agreeing with al the Government has done, or all tha they propose to do, the rule laid dowi is good—when they work badly, wc shall condemn them; by their works men may know them.