CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS ON CURRENT EVENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 2993, 21 September 1872, Page 2

CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS ON CURRENT EVENTS.

TIIK NEW MINISTRY. Tin Taranaki Herald fays We state the general feeling of this community when we say that the defeat of the Fox-Vogel Ministry is looked upon with regret. Never since the day the settlement was first founded have native affairs been in a more satisfactory condition than at present ; but we look forward with gloomy doubts for tho future, if a Ministry, composed of the names that have reached us by telegraph, have the management of affairs. Three years is not such a great length of time to look back upon, and on contrasting the condition of this Province at tho time tho lute MJnistry took office with the present, we cannot wonder at the regret that is now generally expressed. The natives, three years since, looked upon the European with suspicion, ami the Europ -ans, on theotherhand, regarded the Maori with dread. Now confidence has sprung up between the two races, which in time, with careful administration, might be cemented into a permanent friendship. We have read most of the speeches made during the late debate on Mr Stafford's motion, but fail to see, in those made by the Opposition members, any serious charge brought against the late Ministers. In fact, their acts bear such a favorable comparison with previous Governments that we here give a f w instances. In 18(54, when the Whitaker-Bussell Ministry retire 1 from office without having the coinage to meet the Bouse, Mp Welcj took in hand the affairs of tho Colony, and attempted to get them out of the chaos which at the time existed, but, during the following session, after he had got matters into a little better order, Mr Stafford came forward and offered to do the same work with a saving to the Colony of L 200,000 a-ycar. There are a few who do not remember the most lamentable failure he made. He had promised a great reduction of expenditure, and so commenced by reducing the vote for that organised force on which Mr Weld’s

self-reliance was based. He appeared to have ignored the native difficulty— -although that difficulty still existed —until it became patent when we were least prepared for it, and we find ourselves plunged helplessly into a sea of troubles. The natural result followed—disaster, confusion, precipitate action, rockless expenditure, and spasmodic floundering into a general war. Want of knowledge, improvidence, wilful blindness, and recklessness characterised the rapid rush of Ministers from careless indifference into exaggerated alarm. Speaking of the elements of which the new Ministry is composed, the Ifesi Coast Times of the 12th saysWe cannot say that we at all regret that a coalition has not been effected, feeling sure that unless Mr Stafford can contrive to cut the session short, he will be compelled to resign or to appeal to the constituencies. Evenly divided as the House now is, it will be impracticable (o carry on the business of the country satisfactorily, and it is not likely that the Governor would refuse to grant a dissolution under such circumstances. We believe that we but express the opinion of a preponderating majority on the West Coast when we say that a dissolution of the House would be infinitely preferred to a coalition Ministry which would include Mr Curtis as a member, notwithstanding the hindrance to the progress of business which a general dcctiou would entail. This alone would be reason enough for rejoicing that no coalition has been effected.

The Auckland Herald, a paper opposed to the late Government, writes as follows on Sept. 11 : Our telegrams of yesterday leave the status of the new Ministry in an unsatisfactory connection. It is now quite clear that Mr M ‘Lean has declined to join the new Government and so the hope indulged in by many, of a Cabinet formed by a combination of all the talents is doomed to disappointment, Mr M‘Lean’s refusal means opposition to the Government; ami though there must, frdm this cause, be less of Government strength, the country may gain by having a powerful, well-informed, and vigilant Opposition. It is also noticeable that Mr Waterhouse has declined the honor of a seat in the new Cabinet. He is a wary, woU-informcd politician, and doubtless sees breakers ahead. But the most significant feature of the news of last evening is the addition of Mr Sewell to the Government—the hero of a hundred fights. The disturber of the peace of so many Governments seeks repose in the new one, and the announcement of his appointment was received in the House with ironical cheer?. Two gentlemen—Messrs M'Lean and Wat r'.iousc—whose names would have given strength, have declined. The substitutes are Mr Sewell and two Natives, not yet named. Mr Fitzherbert had to be pressed. He was not quite clear ; but has given way, and is safely bagged. So far as matters have gone, we fail to see the elements of a strong and united Government. We fear the remainder of the session will be stormy, and that the Co’ony will not have gained by turning oat the late Ministry, if nothing better than the present cast c m be obtained. Auckland especially will, in such case, have reason to regret the change. Very small regard appears to have been shown to her interests in the appointments made. Kmnor here points to Mr James Mackay, jun., as the probable Native Minister under Mr Stafford’s Government, but nothing definite is known. Mr Mackay has been at the Thames, and is now in Auckland; the Taranaki is realy to sail South, and we should not be surprised to hear of Mr Mackay’s departure for the seat of Government. The portfolios arc not determined, says Mr Stafford, except the Treasury, whig'ii Mr Gillies takes, and that of Public Works, which has been assigned to Mr Donald Reid. Why Mr Fitzherbert has not gone back to the Treasury, as was generally expected, we cannot conceive, unless indeed it queans that he does not wish to tadUle that Augean stable, and assigns to Mr Gillies the task of cleaning it out. We regret the Government have not secured a man of heavier, calibre than M r Donald Reid for the great department of public works. It surely cannot mean the cutting down of the public works scheme to such dimensions as Mr Reid desired some time back. We shall wait and sec. 'I he Government shall have fair play from us, and if they mean fair to tbo colonial policy, tjiey vijl obtain tha£ afpoutit l bf s’iipport whipb wd should accord to any Govern* ment under such circumstance. But there must he no drawing back from the career of progress entered on by the country j no halting iu the work we have undertaken.