The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1259, 20 March 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1878.

The speech of the Hon. J. T. Fisher at Woolston on Monday evening helps to clear away the mists which surround the circumstances of his becoming a Minister. The Canterbury public have always been puzzled to understand why that gentleman was selected by Sir G. Grey. The only explanation that was ever given was that no one else could be found, because Mr. Montgomery, who was looked upon as the gentleman to represent Canterbury in the Ministry could not make up his mind whether he would be safe in committing himself unreservedly to the Grey party. But we learn that the hon. gentleman took office because he thought that by doing so it would be a good thing for the Heathcote district and the colony at large. Why the presence of the member for Heathcote on the Ministerial benches will be for the good of the Heathcote district or for that of the colony, is not explained. Mr. Fisher wisely left his hearers to imagine the benefit he is conferring upon them, and did not venture upon explicit explanations, except in one respect. Had he not, he said, become a Minister the district would not have been represented in the Government. What necessary benefit this could be to them was not pointed cmb. In what respect has Mr. Fisher's presence in the Ministry been for the benefit of this part of the colony P The experience of the past few months has taught the people of Canterbury that the only result of Mr. Fisher's presence in the Cabinet has been to give a kind of sanction to the spoliation, of her property. Her land fund was taken from her, and one of the leaders of the jgang of robbers was the hon. member for the Heathcote —a gentleman who, in his place in the House only a few weeks before had pledged himself to defend that fund, no matter who else should prove faithless, Wo ask the hon. gentleman to point to , 9»e si»gh? net

Ministry which has been for;,, the interest of this district; Sir G. Grey Messrs. Sheehan and Macandrew are ever -watchful of the wants of Auckland and Otago. They take' very good care that the the land fund of this district shall be spent for the bouefit of their own constituents. Mr. Fisher, we suppose, has not even dared to raise his voice against the disgraceful acts, or, if he has, he no doubt very soon found that he was placed in the Cabinet for a Very different purpose to that of looking after Canterbury interests. His presence there, instead of being a benefit to us, has had quite a contrary effect. It has given a kind of sanction to the numerous acts of injustice done to this district by the Ministry. One' thing, however, is very evident, Mr. Fisher is proud of his position. Ho regards it as the reward of talent and industry, but Ave. are afraid that there are but few men who take such a flattering view of the case. Some are ill-natured enough to think that it is Mr. Fisher's utter incapacity for the important position which he holds, which was his chief recommendation in the eyes of Sir G Grey. In him the Premier can always count upon an unthinking and blind supporter. "You can depend" said Mr. Fisher the other night " that my honourable colleague's opinions are mine. I am a humble follower of my honorable friend. I shall stick to him and shall stand or fall by his measures." What those measures were he prudently did not enlarge upon. But when he spoke of his connection with Sir George and the proud position which he occupied, he was more at home. " Here I am," he virtually said, " You ought to be very proud indeed of me. As your representative I am honoring you. I am the trusted friend of the great man I have this evening induced to pay you a visit. I am not much myself I admit. I have no opinions of my own whatever; nor do I, between ourselves, understand those of Sir G. Grey, but, for all that, his opinions are mine. I I will stand or fall'by them. Therefore, although I cannot explain why, my presence in the Cabinet is, in my opinion, for the good of this district and the colony at largo." The irony of Sir George when he talked of Mr. Fisher's " great sagacity" and " deep interest in the welfare of the country," would have been keenly felt by any one less self-satisfied with his position, than is the hon. member for Heathcote.