The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1081, 14 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1877.

“ -'on of J 877 jvjll &ypy hn reike sesb,. - , of the vdfW markable in the - W IAQJW*’ from the fact that it ha.j JjJiew one of the most distrusted me*, -4* Zealand. "When ho took the reins Government in his hands, the Lyttelton Times, whose anti-Atkinson tendencies are so notorious, had little to say in his favour. The extreme views propounded by Sir G. Grey when in opposition/’ said our contemporary. " his pledged support of the disunion of the colony and the general appropriation of the land fund Ids exaggerated language, Ids love of paradox. Ids inordinate proclivity to controversial writing on theoretical questions, ind h?s political unreliability, are not calculated to inspire general public coi. adeuce,” Yet, in spite of this formidable array of chargee, Sir G. Grey remains in

power, and our contemporary has been giving him a warm and unhesitating support. The above words were written when the fortunes of the Grey Ministry were still far from bright; but as time wore on our contemporary began to alter his tone, and when Sir G. Grey succeeded in avoiding a defeat by a skilful catch vote, Ministerial tactics were warmly applauded, and the victory was proclaimed as “ one of great moral force,” and the leaders who displayed “a pre-eminent aptitude for tactics,” and, a superior skill in party warfare,” were commended to the confidence of the country. Parliament is now prorogued, and in an article reviewing the work of the session, onr contemporary says : “ Ministry has in its bands a great “ opportunity. The policy in the main “ accords with the interests and wishes “of the people. If prudence and good “ administration guide the practical “ course of that policy, the public good

“ to be achieved is incalculable, and not “ far off. We expect no magical trails- “ formation; we can fully realise how slow, how difficult, how disappointing, “ is the repair of error, the return to “ the right path. But we roly much on “ single-mindedness of purpose, on ability, “ and on perseverance; and every stop “ taken in the right direction is a gain.” Accustomed as wo arc to the shiftiness of our contemporary, it is difficult to believe that iu the above quotation, ho is speaking of the present Ministry. When they got into office, Sir G. Grey was described by the Lyttelton Times as “ Premier by surprise,” whose “ political unreliability” was not calculated to inspire general public confidence. Later on, he was warmly commended to support, on account of “ his superior skill in party warfare,” and “ his pre-eminent aptitude for tactics,” Now it is “ single-mindedness of purpose” on the part of the Ministry, on which wejire to depend. We wonder what that single purpose is with which the Government is credited. Our contemporary implies that it is in the “ repair of error,” and “ the return to the right path.” A beautiful instance of this single-mindedness of purpose in repairing “ error” occurred on the day of the prorogation. The story as told by the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times is as follows : Amongst the few members who remain, there is great dissatisfaction about the conduct of Ministers in ragard to the Land Bill. It seems that a few days ago Sir G. Grey informed the Governor that he would not ad vise him to assent to the Land Bill. When the Speaker, accompanied by Mr Macandrew and another member, went to Government House yesterday, to present the Supply Bills, the Governor pointed out that the Land Bill was not amongst those 6«nt up for assent, and bearing the Premier’s signature as a recommendation to him to sign them. Mr Macandrew assured the Governor it was a mistake, and urged him to assent to the Bill, but he refused to do so without Kir G. Grey’s signature in the usual way, and advised the Speaker to withhold the Supply Bills, and if the Land Bill was not recommended, to make a call of the House to consider the matter. Mr Macandrew drove back to the buildings, and with Mr Sheehan, saw Sir G. Grey, who at first refused to sign the Bill, but at last yielded to their representations as to the serious consequences which would otherwise ensue. He, however, while consenting to sign the Bill, sent written reasons to the Governor why it should not be assented to. These were that the Bill did not embody the policy of the present Government, and if it passed now would require to be repealed next session, and that it gave undue advantages to the Canterlury runholders. The Governor remarked that these might have been very good reasons for the Government to have urged in the House against the Bill being passed, but that they were not reasons to justify him in refusing to assent to a Bill which had passed both Houses after several eonferences-

Such a display of “singleness of purpose,” if the facts stated above are literally true, may delight out tacticsloving contemporary, but we are inclined to think that the majority of New Zealand colonists will look upon it as an attempt at treachery, which should completely alienate Sir G, Grey’s warmest sjgpßprers,