The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1082, 15 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1877.

If the telegraphic summary of Sir G. Grey’s speech at Napier yesterday is fairly accurate, the Premier must have contented himself with enunciating the vaguest generalities. Every man. he said, should he instructed in political knowledge, so that he might ho able properly to exercise the power which should be in the possession of all men of age tit to have the franchise. That liberal franchise once acquired, the constituencies should he made of a fair si/e, so as to prevent the wealthy from dominating. This perfect measure which is to give absolutely equal political rights to every man, is promised to he introduced next year, and along with it wo are to receive another laud law under which the industrious are to acquire homesteads in some wonderful manner. A few days before the* session broke up he spoke of a system “of laud laws which will enable everyone to obtain with facility a freehold for himself and his family while any Crown lands exist.” .For the future the public Avill look with considerable suspicion upon the utterances of the Ministry after what is reported to have taken place on the day of prorogation. It is easy to talk glibly on the question, and throw out all kinds of promises, which are too indefinite to he fulfilled. The true test of a Ministry is their actions, not their promises. The only act in relation to our laud laws which Sir G. Grey, as Premier, has yet attempted, has not been in the direction of liberality. The new Laud Act provides in a fairly liberal manner for the throwing open the country for settlement, and the selling of land ou deferred payments, yet after it had passed both Houses of Parliament, he deliberately attempted, it is said, not only to deprive the people of this colony of the advantages of the wise provisions of the Land Bill, but at the same time to trample upon the privileges of the people’s representatives. Had the Marquis of Normauby not been a man of great firmness of character, Sir G. Grey would have succeeded in having his own way in spite of the House of Representatives. But fortunately the Queen’s representative came to the rescue of the people of the colony, and by his decision and firmness, saved them from being trampled upon by a despot. It is tbo Marquis of Normauby, not Sir G. Grey, who on this occasion has proved the true defender of popular rights. Another point referred to was that of taxation; but either tho Premier was exceedingly indefinite, or else the telegraphic report is of a most meagre nature. It is acknowledged ou overy hand that tho public works policy has enormously increased the value of property throughout the colony, and that it is only right that it should bear a larger share of the burdens than it does at present, We are not told whether, when the taxation is adjusted, we are to have a land tax only, or whether income is also to }je called «po» to hear a ekw, 33ut

perhaps Sir G. Grey intends at an early date to explain his policy at length. If he lias the real interests of the country a 1 heart, ho will not fail to give a careful outline of his policy, so that the peoph may have an opportunity of discussing i. before Parliament meets ; or what would be better still, he should circulate his Representation, and Land Bills, some months before Parliament again assembles.

Wk hope the manager of the Press Agency will take an early opportunity of making public the source of his information, that a further examination of the Treasury accounts had shown Ministers that they had not made sufficient provision for carrying on the administration of the country during the financial year, and that their funds would be exhausted by February next, when it would be absolutely necessary to ask the Assembly for further supplies. It is taken for granted by some that the report was put in circulation for the purpose of damaging the Ministry. The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times speaks of it as “ absurd and entirely untruthful.” But what ground has our contemporary for jumping to the conclusion. as he does this morning, that the report has been put in circulation in order to damage the Government F The report was put in circulation by Ministers themselves, although perhaps not in the shape in which it has reached the public. It arose, we hear, from the discovery of a mistake in the Public Revenues Act, the effect of which it is said is, that instead of being able to issue Deficiency bills to the amount of £400,000 in aid of the Consolidated revenue, the Colonial Treasurer will only be able to raise £IOO,OOO. When this alarming fact became known the propriety of calling Parliament together in February was discussed, but what the decision of the Ministry was we do not know. The report, however, was not " absurd and entirely untruthful.”