The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1087, 22 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

It is understood that Mr. Montgomery will address his constituents during January. The speech to be delivered on that occasion will be looked forward to with some considerable interest by the Canterbury public generally. Previous to the departure of our representatives to the seat of Government on the opening of Parliament, mysterious rumours were afloat that great deeds were contemplated, and that before long all eyes would be fixed with eager gaze on the doings and sayings of the hou. member for Akom A grwtpwty, it was toted,

was being formed, which would hurl the Atkinson Ministry from power, and place the Government of the country in the hands of a body of patriots whose every effort would be directed towards saving the colony from disaster. In due course the great Middle Party was formed. But here the first difficulty arose—who was to be the leader ? It had been understood that Mr. Montgomery was to fill that onerous and important post, but others of the party were equally ambitious. Ultimately Mr. Larnach was entrusted with the task of making the attack upon the Government, which proved successful. Exit if the selection of a leader was a work of difficulty, the formation of a Ministry was attended with still greater trouble. It xvas understood that Sir G. Grey had agreed not to take office, and negotiations were carried on with his party on that understanding. But this master in the art of party Avarfare Avas not sloav to perceiA r c that ho had a splendid opportunity, in the divided councils of the Middle Party, of seating himself successfxxlly on the Treasury benches, and he Avas not sloav to avail himself of it. After several fruitless meetings botAveen the representatives of the Middle and Grey parties, Mr. Larnach, as representing the one, and Sir G. Grey the other, Avere left together to talk over matters. What took place is not generally knoAvn, but the result Avas that the Middle Party found themselves sold by Mr Larnach, aa t lio on his return announced that a Ministry had been formed, of Avhich Sir G. Grey was the head. The ueAvs Avas received Avitli dismay, but nothing could bo done. While they Avere hesitating, mutually distrusting each other, Sir G. Grey Avas acting. The only service the Middle Party have rendered to the country has been to place, and maintain, the present Ministry in poAver, and then to disappear. Some will think this Avork great enough to keep their memory green for many years to come. On the other hand, if Ave mistake not, they have greatly lowered themselves in the opinion of the country by the course they took. Canterbury at any rate has to thank these gentlemen for the loss of her laud fund. It is difficult to understand the reasons which have induced Mr. Montgomery to act as he has done during the last session. As a supporter of the Grey Cabinet he has much to ans Aver for. His views on the laud fund only a year ago Avere so pronounced that Ave must quote part of Avhat he said to shoAV lioav determined a champion of our local rights he Avas at that time: —

“Then Mr. Whitaker proposed as a means of getting out of the financial difficulty appearing, that the laud fund should he made common property. Now I need hardly tell you that the land fund to be made common property meant that the land fund of Canterbury would be confiscated. * * * * It would be a monstrous proposition to put that money into the consolidated revenue to assist in making roads to land which had been given away for ten and fifteen shillings the acre.” Again, during the present session Mr, Montgomery voted against Mr. Reader Wood’s motion that the land fund should be made colonial, and denounced the proposal of the Atkinson Ministry to take £167,000 of the laud fund of Canterbury and Otago. But when the Grey Cabinet bring down proposals, which, instead of taking £58,000 from Canterbury, and £109,000 from Otago, take the whole of what these provinces possess less a small per-centage, Mr Montgomery commends the course taken : “ They (the Government) had those difficulties to face, and they had to face them in a way which, though I do not altogether agree with it, I regret very much they found themselves obliged to have recourse to, and which has something of the appearance, as the Native Minister says, of highway robbery. Still the course which they have adopted has the merit of being bold, which the pilfering action of their predecessors was not.” Having thus given a half-hearted support to the Grey proposals, the lion, gentleman proceeds to guard his retreat by announcing his determination to wait the appearance of the Bills which were to embody their proposals. When they did appear, he was apparently not quite satisfied, because later on we find him saying that “he did not altogether agree with the present Government proposals to gratify the cupidity of one part of the colony at the expense of another. * '* He did not altogether like the finance of the Government, but still it was better than that of the late Government.” But we must reserve further remarks upon Mr Montgomery’s conduct during the session to a future issue.