The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1292, 10 May 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1878.

A few days ago our morning contemporary called attention to the alarming fact that none of the surplus land revenue which had accrued to Canterbury at the end of December has yet been paid to the local bodies. On that date there was duo to this provincial district the sum of £315,675, which, according to the Public Revenues Act, had to be paid over on the 31st of March. That date is now long past, and yet not a penny of that amount has reached its proper destination. Nay, more, it is perfectly well known that the Government intend, in defiance alike of the law and common honesty, to retain possession of the money if they can. After quoting the language of Sir G. Grey on the subject during last session, our contemporary goes on to say:—“But how are these fine professions borne out by his subsequent conduct? What act that ho so warmly denounced has he not perpetrated, and even surpassed F Ho has seized on this £315,000, not only without authority of law, but in the face of its most explicit provisions. Ho has seized it after repeated Ministerial pledges that not a shilling of it should be withhold. He has seized it in breach, not only of the * solemn contract’ under the existing legislation, but of a specific contract entered into by the Legislature for the payment of this particular money. Every element of wrong —personal falsehood, political fraud, and the most audacious illegality—is conspicuous in the transaction. This, wo suppose, is another stroke of the ‘ bold highwayman’ policy. It is a fresh step in the career of robbery on which the present Government pride themselves. Will the Legislature allow it ? A jealous hatred of Canterbury is, we are well aware, the uppermost feeling with Sir G. Grey and Mr. Macandrew, and animates all their political action. Nor is the sentiment unshared in other quarters. But we trust it will not wholly prevail. We trust that the claims of law and equity will not be totally unheard, and that, even though only Canterbury is concerned, the Assembly will not submit to see its laws treated with contempt, and the Treasury converted into a den of thieves.” What, we ask, is the Honorable J. T, Fisher doing in quietly giving his sanction to such a disgraceful transaction. He has surely some sense of honor left, in spite of his present associations. It is no doubt flattering to his vanity to occupy a seat in the Cabinet and to bo taken about the colony and patted on the head by the Premier, when it suits him to do so. But is his own good name of no value whatever to him F Is there no danger of his losing the character ho has hitherto borne in the Heathcoto district ? What again are his constituents about ? They fondly imagine that Mr. Fisher’s presence in the Cabinet is advantageous to them and the rest of Canterbury, whereas the only effect is to give the semblance of approval, on the part of this district, to one of the most barefaced acts of robbery and plunder which has over been perpetrated in New Zealand. Wo wonder also what the lion, member for Akaroa will have to say when ho finds that his confidence has been so sadly misplaced. When he addressed his constituents in January last, after quoting Sir G. Grey’s words already referred to, said, “ Gentlemen, I consider that a most important declaration, because it satisfied mo that the laud fund which had accrued —and I will tell you what that was presently —would bo perfectly safe, and would be paid over to the provinces at any rate. I will tell you that the laud fund for the six months—that is, from Ist July to December 30th —which was what was hanging in the balance, has produced £688,960 4s Bd, all of which, under the Financial Arrangements Act, except £60,000, comes back in Canterbury. [Cheers.] Therefore you will see that this is a most important declaration, and I venture to say that if this declaration of Sir George, Grey had not been honest with regard to what he intended to do as regarded the land fund, or that which had accrued, many of las supporters would have voted in a different manner,” Well, it turns out that Sir G. Grey was not “honest” as regards his intentions towards the laud fund, and Mr. Montgomery, and those gentlemen referred to by him, have been deceived. At the time the promise was made their votes were necessary to the existence of the Government. Ministers evidently think that they can do without their support now, and so those solemn pledges are cast to tuo winds. Will Mr. Montgomery continue still to put his trust in the Ministry, and accept the trumped-up excuse which will no doubt bo given for breaking their solemn obligations F Wo give the hon. member a hint that it is time to make another tack. There are indications that the colony is beginning to awake to the fact that they are being humbugged by the Government. The period of promising is coming to an end, and, when the time for fulfilling arrives, the fate of tho Ministry will bo sealed. Hero then is an opportunity for the great master in the art of trimming to set his sails ip catch the favouring hiwfy Jui*

mediately the Assembly meets lot him move a want of confidence in the Ministry, and ho will have every chance of making fair weather of it for some time longer. Our readers will remember the feat performed by the hon. member in the Oddfellows’ Hall, when ho asked the electors of Christchurch to express confidence in the good intentions of Sir G. Grey. The resolution, and the speech in in which it was moved, wore worthy of the man. But lie, even, wo should think, must now be rather sceptical of those good intentions.