The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3126, 25 February 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1873

The political campaign is about to commence, and the first moves will be made by the Opposition. Curiosity is naturally aroused as to the course that will be marked out for themselves by the two men who arc supposed to be leaders on that side of the question. It always appears to us to bo more difficult for a member to acquit himself well in giving an account of his doings to his constituents, than when engaged in his actual duties as their representative: and this difficulty is much increased when there are no decided questions before the country on which to comment. Sir David Moxro may not feel the same perplexity as Mr Stafford, for he has not to excuse himself for having made statements respecting the position of the country, which closer investigation proved were utterly unfounded. The opposition of last session was based upon a mere idea. An attempt was made to show that the Treasurer was misleading the country as to the position of its finances; and so persistently was it asserted by the Opposition journals, that at length it became generally believed by a largo section of the public, and by many members of the House. Even by those who htid faith in the ability of the members of the Eox-Yogel Government the balancer sheet produced by Mr Gillies was looked forward to with interest. It would have been iporc creditable to the Stafford party to have acknowledged at once they baa been mistaken, than to have exhibited their ability in the way of so dealing with public sc,counts, as to make out a deficiency where none really existed. In this they committed a gjayo error. They had calculated upon the believing their version of the story ; but they were mistaken. Accounts, when made public, tell their own talc to those who understand them; and, in these days of wide-spread education, there are few who do not, w ho are eagaged in extensive business. The result, therefore, of the trimming of the balance-sheet pas that distrust, instead of confidence, was engendered in the minds of thinkers, They do not like to bo the subjects of at humbug. So long as there is a doubt, they arc content to let men substantiate their own they can do so they have a fair claim to be believed and supported. But failing, it is adding to the disgrace of defeat to have attempted to bolster up a bad case by misrepresentation. We beheye this proof that Mr Stafford’s Ministry showed a genius for deception was the true cause of their short-lived term of office. Of course this unhappy little effort to grasp at power w ill be glossed over, and anything but the correct reason will he given for the discomfiture of the party. Wo apprehend that the old ground will be gone over again, although so differently have matters shapgd the Colony, since last session, from what was predicted by the Opposition, that it is now more. to find men willing to believe predictions of evil than it was twelve months ago. Yet there have been plenty of matters gone cross enough, as there always will be. Immigration has not, on the whole, gone on satisfactorily, and the Ministry will have to bear the brunt of tliat Whether they are to blame must bo judged of by the explanations they will bo able to give, At present it seems most provable that the AgentGeneral is chiefly in fault, although the hteA account? ism to iptiigfrt* hj

has had many difficulties to,contend with, through circumstances over which neither he nor the Government have control. As for Native affairs, surely the Opposition must he shut up; and it not he forgotten that it was on this point that Mr Stafford’s Ministry had to give way to that of Mr Fox. The Public Works and Immigration scheme was no part of the policy of the Opposition. They loft office at‘a time when the Colony was in such a state of disorganisation that no Ministry would have dared to propound such a plan. It requires for its completion that the credit of the Colony shall remain high, but for its initiation that credit .was to bo created. It was created; and the same firm and pacific policy lias sustained it. Even on this point Mr {STAFFORD was not satisfied last session, and though, experience has proved that the Native policy of the last few years has been exactly adapted to foster good feeling between the N alives and the Colonists, he was unwise enough to throw out certain ideas tending to unsettle matter's and create discontent. Wo do not suppose Sir David Monro or Mr Stafford will coincide with their crotchety friend, the Daily Times , in advocating that a British Governor should recognise ami meet on terms of amity, the Maori King, whose pretensions to sovereignty clash with the allegiance he owes to Her Majesty, and whose efforts at the last Native gathering were directed to throwing obstacles in the way of Maori improvement and progress. Our contemporary’s notions of conciliation are certainly romantic in the extreme, when he advocates such a course. It is hy no means impossible that if Tawjiio" could sink himself into a subordinate chieftain and submit to the guidance of the Government, he might be made useful to his tribe and to the removal of all obstacles to their improvement ; hut it will not do to acknowledge Ids pretensions, and so long as he holds them, no British Governor can meet him without compromising his position, nor acknowledge him as one with whom to enter into a treaty. His duty is allegiance to the Queen, and there are signs that, although he refuses that, Ids followers are shaking in their faith and arc tired of being excluded from the good tilings enjoyed by other tribes. Obedience is only a matter of time, and apparently not a long time either. It will be difficult for Sir David to say much against the Native policy of the present Ministry, judged of by its results. As for local matters, Waikouaiti has always had plenty of grievances—jetty accommodation, railway terminus, commonage and other troubles inflicted upon them hy man and nature, and which they ask Government to mend for them instead of doing it themselves. For the past ton years they have been blackguarding their members for not getting things remedied. If what they say be true, that with an extended jetty, property would have been so much more valuable, the owners of property have proved themselves short-sighted in the extreme. A pro rata contribution amongst themselves would before this time have paid them tenfold. We shall hear what Sir David has to promise. He and Mr Stafford have certainly shewn themselves plucky in coming forward, but they will have to confine themselves to comments on the disagreeable past, unless t hey fight with shadows of their own projecting; for we do not suppose they are so completely in the confidence of the Ministry of the day, as to be able to forestall the measures that may be brought forward.