HOME OPINION ON NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1804, 2 December 1879, Page 3

HOME OPINION ON NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

(“London Times,” October 6th.) A Ministerial crisis and a change of Ministry in Now Zauland are the natural and inevitable results of the recent proceedings of the Colonial Premier, Sir George Grey. Two months ago the House of Representatives, on the motion of Sir William Pol, the leader of the Opposition, declared by a majority of fourteen —one-sixth of the total number of members —that it had ceased to repose confidence in Sir George Grey’s Administration, Sir George Grey was not the man to acquiesce without a struggle in this adverse decision, and he at once called upon the Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, to grant him a dissolution. A Colonial Governor, according to the moot recent ‘ leading cases * in constitutional law, is not bound to follow the advice of his Ministers in considering a demand for a dissolution, but Sir Hercules Robinson apparently saw no reason for refusing Sir George Grey the opportunity ho desired of appealing to tho constituencies, and, stipulating only that the supplies for the year should ho first obtained, he dissolved tho Legislature of the colony about the middle of August. The writs were made returnable four weeks later, and wo cow learn that the Ministry have been defeated, and that Sir George Grey has resigned. Tho Hon. John Hall has boon intrusted with tho task of forming a new Administration, which will probably combine all tho elements of antagonism drawn together by Sir George Grey’s restless and extreme policy since he took office in 1877. Whether a stable Government can bo established on this negative foundation is uncertain, but it can hardly be doubted that tho colonists have had more than enough of Sir George Grey and his schemes. Por two years the colony has been disturbed by multiplied projects of democratic change which are not sought for by any influential body of citizens, and by misunderstandings with the Queen’s representative and the Home Government which are not to the taste of so loyal a community as the people of New Zealand. To these reasons for discontent has been lately added tho feeling excited by Sir George Grey’s refusal to interfere between the settlers and tho Maoris in tho Taranaki land dispute. As Sir George Grey had come into power not so much by the aid of any popular movement in favour of universal suffrage or other democratic measures as through a temporary reaction against the policy pursued by tho previous Administrations, the abolition of the provincial system, tho development of centralization, and the bold financial enterprises of Sir Julius Vogel, he has found that his hold upon the country is easily shaken off. The hostile vote of tho Legislature has been followed by a more decisive defeat upon tho appeal to tho constituencies, and for the present, it may bo taken for grant'd, Sir George Grey’s career as a Minister in New Zealand is at an end. It cannot be wished, either in the interest of the colony or of the mother country, that Sir George Grey should again obtain tho control of the policy of New Zealand. Wo regret this for tho sake of a public servant who in his time has filled high and responsible offices with distinction. For many years Sir George Grey was known as an able and trusted representative of the Crown in more than one of our colonies. Prom 1840 to 18-46 ho was Governor of South Australia ; from 1816 to 1854 i he was Governor of New Zealand ; and from 1854 to 1861 ho was Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. In 1»61 tho Colonial Office sent him once again to New Zealand especially to deal with the Maori troubles, at that time formidable and persistent. During his second Governorship he conducted tho Native war of 1863 6-1 to a fortunate issue, and after the restoration of peace he finally retired at tho close of 1867. Not long afterwards he settled permanently in New Zealand without any intention, as it appeared at first, of taking an active part in colonial politics. Some three years ago, however, when the colony was excited by the discussion of the Provincial Governments’ Abolition question, Sir George Grey reappeared in public life, and was suddenly elevated to the position of a party leader. A rapid change in the balance of political power in tho colony gave him a majority, and he was tempted to retain his popularity by democratic promises as reckless as those which Mr Berry was offering about the same time to the populace of Victoria. But the colonists of Now Zealand are for the most part moderate, easy-going men, who would not, perhaps, be called Conservatives in an old country, but who are not eager to try all at once in their half-developed and thinly peopled country the extreme conclusions of democratic policy. Sir George Grey promised to give the colony universal suffrage, shortened Parliaments, and representation according to numbers. Bu*, having no force of public opinion behind him, his pledges remained barren, and his inability to give effect to the schemes which he declared to be necessary brought his Government into something like contempt. His executive administration was not more fortunate than his legislative enterprises. He was repeatedly charged with unconstitutional proceedings, and a deplorable want of temper involved him in a quarrel with the late Governor the Marquis of Normanly which lasted until the latter was transferred to the Governorship of Victoria at the close of last year. Sir George Grey’s unsatisfactory relations with the representatives of tho Crown led him to take up an attitude of hostility towards the Home Government, and not only to censure the conduct and criticise the opinion of the Colonial Office, but to suggest measures tending to weaken materially the Imperial connection. One of hi? proposals, that the Governor of New Zealand and of other self-governing colonies should be chosen by the popular vote, was deemed of sufficient importance to demand a refutation from Lord Normanby, who, in his farewell speech at Dunedin, pointed out that such a system would practically involve separation from the mother country. To this Sir George Grey’s supporters candidly replied that they saw no prospect of injury to the colony, but rather benefit, in that consummation. Public opinion in the colony was by no means prepared to adopt the extravagant conclusions to which the Prime Minister would thus have committed them, and men of all opinions and connexions have combined to repudiate his policy. In other respects the administration of Sir George Grey has been not less unlucky. His financial management has been severely criticized, and a deficit of about a quarter of a million must probably be acknowledged. He has fallen out with more than one of his colleagues. His Attorney-General left him in June, and his Treasurer a few weeks later, the latter after a personal altercation with the Prime Minister in the Government offices, which caused much scandal throughout the colony. But it is tho Native policy of Sir George Grey that has been viewed with the greatest disappointment. When the late Ministry was formed the most sanguine hopes were founded upon Sir George Grey’s supposed influence over tho Maoris, and his skill and experience in dealing with them. As it has turned out however, Native relations have been in a less satisfactory stote within the past two years than at any time since the close of the Maori war. The agrarian troubles in Taranaki were only a symptom of the prevailing uneasiness. It appears that the Government has shown in its management of the Maoris at once a want of consideration for their claims and a want of firmness in encountering violence and defiance of law. The settlers of Taranaki, whose farms were recently invaded by bands of Maori ploughmen, complain bitterly that the Government refused, not only to protect their property, but even to advise them how to act. They have themselves arrested the intruders, and fortunately the Maoris, though asserting their alleged rights in a violent manner, do not seem inclined to offer any further resistance. The exasperation of the colonists, however, is natural, and probably it has as much to do with tho defeat of Sir George Grey’s Government as even the animosity aroused by his disturbing projects of democratic change and his unfriendly attitude towards tho mother country.

[“Pall Mall Gazette.”] As was expected, Sir George Grey has been defeated in the New Zealand Parliament, called together after the dissolution which ho himself asked for. This is satisfactory, for no one who has followed Sir George Grey’s career during the past few years can suppose him a fit person fo conduct the policy of New Zealand through the trying period which seems now to bo before the colony. He has, to speak plainly, put himself entirely in the hands of the mob, and has done so under circumstances which were specially objectionable. He ought certainly to have foreseen that the wholly unchecked democrooy which ho wished to establish, with a plebiscite, an elected governor, and the rest of it, would not be acceptable to tho country. He ought to have been aware also that his Native poliojr was not calculated to satisfy either Maoris or colonists. Yet he pursu'd

his course regardless of consequences, , and"at one moment it seemed as if Now Zealand might suffer even more severely than Victoria from the mischievous attempt to set classes against one another. However, the people have proved for the time wiser than their leader, and Sir G o ge Grey has ceased to be the Premier of Now Zealand. Unfortunately, we fear this will not be the end of it. Sir George Grey is now seventy years old, but ho is not a man to lake his defeat quietly, and there is dangerous material for him to work upon if resolve upon agitation. The exceptional and perhaps rather inflated prosperity of New Zealand is over for the time, while the working population of the colony consists mainly of assisted immigrants. If, therefore, Sir George Grey displays the same rsckleasness out of cilice that he has shown while in power, there may yet bo serious trouble with these people. Luckily, the Governor is a man of j udgment and experience.