The Globe. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 684, 29 August 1876, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876.

The doings and sayings of the Auckland members of the Opposition sink into insignificance in the presence of the Ministerial crisis now pending. When all eyes are eagerly turned in the direction of Ministers, the public have no time to observe the doings of a section of the Opposition camp. They are nevertheless worthy of careful study, as an exhibition of the uses to which representative Government may be put. When Sir George Grey elected to retain his seat for the Thames* the electors of Auckland City West set about finding a proper successor, and their choice fell on Mr. Tonks, the Mayor of Auckland. That gentleman was elected because he approved generally of the policy announced by Sir George Grey, and stated his intention of supporting it, but he guarded himself in express terms against being looked upon as pledged in any particular manner, reserving to himself the right of exercising his own judgment. He was not long in the House before he found how wise he had been in making this reservation. He found that under Sir George Grey's leadership, the interests of Auckland were being sacrificed. Sir George Grey had discovered in Ministers the embodiment of tyranny and oppression, and their measures were fraught with untold evils to New Zealand. In the interests of the liberty not only of New Zealand, but of the whole " human race," Ministers must be driven from power. No terms must be made with them, or any compromise accepted. And so on his arrival in Wellington, and finding Sir George Grey engaged in this Quixotic encounter, Mr. Tonks' practical mind naturally began to search for some result, and the only one he could discover, was loss to his district. The " sentimental obstinacy" of Sir George Grey in these circumstances, naturally led the more sensible portion of the Auckland members to rebel against his leadership. The result was a series of meetings, which ended in the virtual deposition of Sir George Grey as leader. Mr. Tonka' conduct seems to have given rise to great dissatisfaction on the part of some of his constituents. His committee held a meeting, and resolved to request him to resign unless he was prepared to follow Sir George's bidding. Mr. Tonks has very naturally declined to act at the bidding of a self-elected committee of his constituents. The insulting resolutions passed by these gentlemen show what notions some people have of representative institutions. Were all the constituencies to follow the example of Auckland City West, wo had better adopt the system of submitting each question to the vote of the electors at once, and thus save the cost of meeting of the Assembly. But the strangest part of the story has to come, and takes the form of a telegram from Mr. John Sheehan to the Central Committee, Auckland, as follows : "I am desired by Sir George Grey " that you inform the Central Com- " mittee that he wishes no action " taken prejudicial to Mr. Tonks. He " is satisfied of Mr. Tonks' good faith " and staunchness to the party, and is " certain that he may depend upon " him on all important questions. He " feels sure that Mr. Tonks has been " temporally misled by representations " made by people who would wish the " party split up, and is satisfied Mr. " Tonks was only actuated by the best " intentions, and regrets that he was so " badly advised. Stop any agitation " against Mr. Tonks or his seat. This " is not a mere idle message, but the "joint opinion of the Auckland mem- " bers, who are satisfied Mr. Tonks " should remain an active member of " the Auckland party." Could a more striking proof be given of the complete demoralization of the j Auckland electors than the above tele-

gram. At the bidding of Sir George Grey they are prepared to applaud to the skies the conduct of their member, or raise a blind unreasoning agitation against him. In neither case would they stop to inquire into the reasonableness of their conduct. Sir George has ordered it; that is enough for them.