AS OUR NEIGHBOURS SEE IT.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1354, 17 June 1878, Page 3

AS OUR NEIGHBOURS SEE IT.

The following succinct description of tho Ministerial differences in New Zealand appears in the last number of the “ Australasian” to hand: —Either there are two parties, a violent party and a moderate party, comprised within the New Zealand Ministry, or the Ministry has an arrangement for talking different policies according to the circumstances of the case and the feeling of the meeting addressed. Sir George Grey has for some weeks been carrying out his threat of stumping the provinces, and has in many speeches of formidable length laid a red-hot democratic policy before the electors. A manhood suffrage was to be introduced, plurality of voting was to bo abolished, aud suggestive hints were skilfully thrown out about the possible restoration of provincial institutions. More recently Mr Balia nee, the latest addition to the Grey Ministry, has delivered an address to the electors at Marten, in which he sketched the intentions of tho Government during tho ensuing season. From Mr Ballance’s speech it is clear that the pledges and promises given with such lavish liberality by Sir George Grey are tho veriest moonshine. He emphatically denied that the Government had tho slightest idea of reviving provincialism. With regarded to the intended measure dealing with electoral reform, it appears that the property qualification is to be retained, besides leasehold, ratepaying, household, and residential qualifications ; and as far as can be understood from his speech, votes will be allowed to an elector in as many constituencies us he holds qualifications in. The Civil Service, which Sir George Grey regards pretty much as it is regarded by Air Berry, is, in the estimation of Mr jßallance, “ the backbone of the Government, and should not be swept away. After careful study, he did not believe that any reductions could be made.” But without going any further into the elaborate refutation of the declarations of Sir George Grey, furnished by Mr Ballance, it is clear that there is a screw loose somewhere. Either the New Zealand Ministry has as many policies as it has Ministers, or the moderate, sensible section have determined to check the reckless incendiary proceedings of the Premier ; or, while it allows that erratic politician to tickle the cars of the groundlings with extravagant fustian and bluster, it seeks to conciliate the support of the intelligent classes by milder and more practical statements. The future must show which conjecture comes nearest the truth. ,