THE GLOBE. MODAY, JUNE 14, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1967, 14 June 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MODAY, JUNE 14, 1880.

The veteran statesman, Mr. Gladstone, is in for a surprise. Ho is in the habit of receiving addresses from all quarters of the globe, letters of thanks from Greek and Italian patriots, letters of sympathy from American admirers, but, as far as is known, he has never yet received an address from tbo Invercargill Liberal Reform Association. However, it will not be long before that honour will crown the illustrious life of the English Premier. The body alluded to have forwarded the following address ’ —“ The members of the Invercargill Liberal Reform Association desiro to convey their congratulations on the success of the Liberal cause in the parent country. They regard it as the opening of a new era of wise and beneficient legislation, of a peaceful foreign policy, of prosperity to commerce, and, at the same time, as auguring well for the success in the land

of their adoption of the kindred principles of the Liberals, whose chief exponent in New Zealand is Sir George Grey.” Let us try to picture the scene which might present itself on the arrival of the above document. Mr. Gladstone would have entered his official room, and his private secretary, who wo will call the Hon. J. Jones, having previously noted and glanced over the letters and despatches specially addressed to his chief, will be bringing forward those that may require immediate notice or may be of special interest. “By the way. Sir,” says Mr. Jones, “here’s a body called the Liberal Reform Association of Invercargill.” “Invercargill ?” replies Mr. Gladstone, “ let me see, where is Invercargill P” “|A flourishing township in New Zealand facing the South Polo,” says the secretary, who has secretly posted himself up in the matter previously to the arrival of his chief, and now gains considerable Icudos through the manoeuvre. “ Ah, exactly,” says the Premier, “but what a very peculiar title for a Colonial Association. I thought the institutions out there were on an extremely wide basis, and that the present Government is hard at work making them if possible more liberal than they wore before. However, I 'suppose they are something like the Borryites in Yictoria, and don’t know when they are well off. I imagine Sir George Grey, who is described as their “ chief exponent,” is our old friend of the Colonial Office —Tempora mutaniur, &c. How well I remember, when ho was first Governor there, his trying to quash the Liberal constitution granted to the colonists. And now he goes on the popular platform, bullies the governors when ho has a chance, goes in for the post being elective, with an eye to being made the first elected Governor himself, and generally, I believe, wants to separate New Zealand from the old country.” “Quite so, sir,”says Mr Jones, “ they tell me he has developed the most tremendous powers of talk. He goes about the country telling the people they are serfs, and hashing up old stories of oppression with a modern sauce.” “In fact, a bit of an agitator.” “ Exactly so, sir, but it is all talk. He was two years in office the other day, and his Ministry did not pass a single liberal measure.” “ Well, it appears to me,” says Mr. Gladstone, “ that what New Zealand wants is a sound system of finance and an economical administration. Do you happen to know, Mr. Jones, what are Sir George’s opinions on this point ?” “ The leas said about them the better, I fancy,” replies the other. “ Not to put too fine a point upon it, he tries to catch the popular ear by advocating repudiation through a system of taxing the bondholder. This he upholds both on the platform and in the House. And then his general views on finance are most extraordinary. I see by the latest files that ho holds that during the present depression in New Zealand the best way of tiding over difficulties is to keep up a lavish expenditure on borrowed money, which, ho says, may easily bo repaid when times get better.” “I wish to goodness,” breaks in Mr. Gladstone, irritably, “ that, if this is the case, this absurd association would not use the words Liberal Reform, and would not bother me with ridiculous addresses. Their principles are not at all ‘ kindred ’ to mine, and you had better write and tell them so. But stay. It is as well to be civil. Write and acknowledge the receipt of their precious effusion. But Sir George is going to the wall pretty fast, and nothing can be worse than his code of political morality. A clever man, but evidently going to seed. What’s the next business ?”