THE GLOBE. FRIDAY APRIL 23, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1923, 23 April 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY APRIL 23, 1880.

A manceuvre aa old as the hills is that of ridiculing where no blame can he attached. The advocate, the author, the philosopher, have in all ages taken up this line when their case is specially weak. To hide the truth behind a cloud of amusing small talk is as easy as it is disingenuous. “ O’est la ridicule qui tue ” is taken by some writers as the Gospel text on which they stake their little all. An example of a thorough belief in this maxim is to be found in an article of our contemporary, the “ Lyttelton Times,” published in its issue of yesterday. In this essay to condemn the Government a peculiar style of badinage is introduced, which is evidently intended to crush the policy of the present Cabinet. Unfortunately, however, for its own side, the affair is dreadfully overdone. Nothing that the Hall Government has done, is doing, or is likely to do, meets with the slightest approval. Much as on tho occasion of a council being held to debate on the advisability of invading Greece, the general Mardonius informed King Xerxes that ho was not only the greatest King that ever had been, but was also the greatest King that ever would be, so tho “Lyttelton Times” discounts futurity in its anathemas on the present administration. Mr. Hall is likened to a fussy old housekeeper, the Cabinet is called a centrifugal Cabinet, the Colonial Treasurer is twitted for being at his wit’s ends to make both ends meet, the next session is to be a “ Policy bee” for the Ministers own behoof, tho various Royal Commissions will not have time to even take a preliminary canter through the various subjects they have been called upon to report on, and last, but not least, the Native Commission has been playing into Te Whiti’s hand, and has practically given him all and more than ho wants at the public cost. The whole of tho article, which is cast much in tho form of a topical comic gong, winds up with jocose recommendations as to what is to ho said in the Royal Speech at the opening of Parliament. “ Tho Governor may bo advised to inform tbo Colony that he has, during tho recess, -visited various racecourses, with a view to ascertaining from personal observation whether the totalisator cannot bo used by tho Colonial Treasurer as a means of replenishing the public chest. Another financial proposal may bo made to place an export duty on all persons and moveable property driven out of tho Colony by ithe Property Tax. Some credit may be taken by the Government for the good harvest and for the rise in tho price of wool. The Minister of Lands may be

congratulated on Lis successfully showing to intending small settlers “ how not to do it;” and at the same time a graceful compliment may bo paid to the Lincolnshire farmers’ delegates who did us the honor of travelling through the colony at public expense, and then departed without any satisfactory statement of their intentions, &c., &c., &c.” That the article in question was not profusely illustrated with comic sketches of the various members of the Ministry, is probably to ho accounted for by the fact that no other caricaturist except the war correspondent is kept on the staff of our contemporary, and the war correspondent being at present engaged, by latest accounts, in the useful and interesting operation of climbing Mount Egmont in a heavy fog, his services were not available.

It is needless to say, after this slight sketch of the manner in which the present state of affairs is treated, that any critical analysis of the situation is not attempted. The idea is solely to ridicule at all price. And even granting that there is some truth in the pictures drawn, what of it ? Mr. Hall may be fidgety. But has he not every right to be so when the management of an estate that has of late years been so fearfully mismanaged has devolved upon him ? The Colonial Treasurer may be at his wits’ ends. But is that not natural when the late Government had spent half of the loan before it was even raised ? Next session may perhaps be a “ policy bee.” But is not that better than the system of autocratic government initiated by the last Executive, when Tapanui and Thames contracts were entered into in absolute defiance of parliamentary control ? Royal Commissions may have only time to take a preliminary canter through the subjects they are empowered to examine. But does not that prove the magnitude and importance of the interests involved ? But as to the Native Commission granting all that Te Whiti wishes, that little joke stands on a distinct footing. It has done nothing of the sort. It has calmly and impartially examined the state of the native question on the West Coast, and has simply recommended that the promises made at various times should be fulfilled. Did, during the tenure of power by the late Government, To Whiti merely hold out for the reserves recommended by the Commission ? Has our contemporary forgotten the audacity of the Natives at the time of the political ploughmen episode ? Has it forgotten the claim of the Natives that the very principle of confiscation could uot be admitted ? The position of affairs on the Wamate Plains at the present time and when Sir George Grey left office are as distinct as light from darkness, and our contemporary knows it, and attempts to hide the truth behind a joke. Mr Bryce may may he twitted because he is not always in Wellington. No; he is often, we are pleased to say, at the front examining, by personal inspection, how affairs are progressing. Surely that is better than the spurious activity of Sir George, who was wont constantly to rush frantically to the Thames and other districts turning first sods, but carefully abstaining from approaching the district where our affairs were in hazard. If our contemporary wishes to impress the public with the incapacity of the present Government, we would strongly recommend [it to take np another line. If it wishes to write a second “ Happy Land,” let it offer the copyright to Mr. Hoskins, and the public will enjoy what is put on the boards, but if it seriously wishes to benefit its own party, let it abstain from the manufacture of articles quite unworthy of the serious nature of the subject treated of.