THE PREMIER'S CRAZES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1255, 27 March 1878, Page 3

THE PREMIER'S CRAZES.

[" Australasian."] As a discoverer of mares' nests, Sir George Grey is probably without an equal in tho political world. The history of the foul conspiracies which he has in his time dragged to the daylight would fill a volume. They range from the intended bombardment of the city of Auckland, in accordance with an agreement between Lord Nomianby and the commodore of the squadron, to tho scheme of poisoning off obnoxious politicians, arranged ft &e secret dejjjutcliep totwewj Six George

Bowen aurl the Colonial office, to which he lately took occasion again to call attention." The latest piece of perfidy of this kind on which Sir George Grey has poured the fierce light of his Diogenes lantern is a plot, as it seems, of the Government of England to introduce a system of taxing the colonies for the benefit of the British fleet. In a speech which he delivered at Wellington, an address perversely directed throughout to fanning class animosities, Sir George Grey said—" There is a party rising in England, holding certain views, and helping to carry out certain views which would be fatal to the good of this country. They maintain, whether you like it or not, that you are to bo taxed by Great Britain for the support of her fleet, and she is to determine how much you are to pay. Such a demand ought not- to be made upon us, and ought to be resisted. I say it is not right that, we should be taxed for the purpose of supporting the navy of Great Britain. The taxation is one which I beliero we will not submit to." Hear, hear ! But what is it all about ? Does anybody besides Sir George Grey know anything of this attempt, to renew (he system of imposing taxation on colonies, which we all thought was pretty well exploded and frustrated by certain events which happened just about 100 years ago ? Sir George Grey is a melancholy instance of great, gifts rendered utterly useless from their unsuitability for the sphere in which he has to work. As a private detective, he would excel all of those quiet, unassuming, but superhuman individuals, who display such powers of penetration in the circulating library novels. But in the serious position of Premier of a business-like community, his marvellous discoveries only make him laughed at, and, wo should fancy, make his unfortunate colleagues at times feel very absurd and uncomfortable.