The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4012, 5 January 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1876.

Precisely what we predicted would take place has already happened—the Opposition are opposed to each other. Those men who were brought to Otago to instruct us what to do, and how to vote, are divided among themselves, and scarcely know how to frame their hustings speeches so as to leave themselves some little liberty of future action. We do not know that it matters much so far as they are concerned. There is scarely one of them out of Otago that has a political character to lose, and in Otago many that are elected, or are candidates, have political characters to make. For the latter the times are unpropitious. They are seeking to enter upon their enlarged public career at a period when the reputations of experienced and tried men are exposed to damage, because of the misrepresentations of those who seek office, and who have had the tact to raise a popular cry. What have Messrs FitzherberT and Bunny turned out, now that they have been compelled to shake off their masks and to state their opinions ? Both Abolitionists perhaps in the truest sense Centralists. What is Sit George Grey ? No one can tell—not even himself. Is it possible to imagine anything more ridiculous than the part he is reported to have played at the Thames ?

Some elector asked him what objection he had to name the form of Government he would propose if he had a majority at his back, to which he replied that if he attempted until after months of consideration to put forward a scheme, he would be looked upon as a fool. Of all the strange things ho had come across, asking him off hand, at that late hour, to develop a form of Government for New Zealand, was the strangest of all.

Poor Sir George ! We fear the world is destined to exhibit one stranger phenomenon—his own election. The Province of Auckland has far outrivalled Otago in hare - brainedness in the election of Mr W, L, Rees. With a few who have talent we are coupling several who have neither brains nor education. They will at any rate do as they are bidden, if they are only well ridden ; but the Auckland team will need jockeys. Mr Rees has always a tendency to take the bit between his teeth and bolt in some wayward direction; and as for Sir George ! he has his schemes to form. He has rushed into opposition without knowing what he would have : he lias abandoned Provincialism as it was, but requires months before he can devise anything to put in its place. He is ready now to accept whatever is prepared for him, if the report received yesterday be true.

He enlarged upon the subject, denying that he intended to endeavor to reinstate Provincialism as it had existed in the past. If they were to have been Provinces at all they should have been so in truth —almost sovereign states in due submission to the government of the country, but still possessing almost every power that a sovereign state possesses, so that t'le citizens of such state might have been educated in one of the highest functions which men can discharge to their fellow men. Whatever form of government was determined on, he would do his best to make it work and to secure good and equal law for all and just taxation. If a great radical change was to be

made in the form of government of the coun try his belief was that the Government of the day should bring in a Bill for that purpose; that the Opposition should be allowed to criticise it and bring forward any proper measure, and that when the matter had been several months before the country there should be a dissolution, and the people themselves, through the constituencies, determine it. Is this the leader the Opposition needsl A bookfitl blockhead, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his h°ad ? We trust, for the honor of New Zealand, that if weare to have an Opposition —and we think it would be an evil day to be without; one—there should hp some distinct policy laid botbre He country. We do hoc Want to buy un that enpoehi I we wish to know what we are to have in return for our votes. Since the world began, such ‘ blind voting was never known as has been practiced this election. We are told the Government have not declared their policy, that it should have been laid before the country months ago, and that no one knows their intentions. This is not true. The policy was declared last session, and a Bill, entitled the Local Government Bill, was laid before the House. It was not pretended it was perfect, although it clearly Ideated the intentions of the Government ; but the Opposition would not allow it to be considered. They would have no alteration—their tactics were Provincialism as it was. What are their tactics now ? What in business we should esteem the “ height of impudence.” We can understand an old and tried commercial traveller saying to a customer, “ I have no sample, but if you will trust me you shall have a > good article.” The probability is that the buyer would be better served than if buying by sample, But if buyer , and seller were unknown to each other, 1 it would be impudence on one side to , ask for confidence, and credulity on the other to give it. Yet this is precisely what the Opposition ask. Raw politi- [ clans like Sir George Grey, Mr W. L. ' Rees, Mr Seaton, or Mr Green, say, I “ First help us te turn the Ministry out, place us or our side in office, and then we will tell you what our plans are.”

If a majority in the Assembly were given him, and the opportunity given him and his friends to bring forward plans for the future government of the country, not only would they place their plans before the country but they would see that they were carefully and minutely discussed in the Assembly, and the constituencies afterwards appealed to to ascertain whether they liked them or teb.

It would be a good reply to say, “ Yogel we know, M‘Lean we know, Richardson we know, and Reynolds we know, but, save four or live, who are you? You do not even give us an opportunity to guess what you are why, then, should we trust you? You give no definite sound by which we may imagine your opinions ; but, instead of that, you promise to support this or that, according to the chance of harassing the Government.” It is better to trust even a rogue you know than one you are unacquainted with. For forms of government let fools contest, Whate’er is best administered is best.