POLITICS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 12 May 1881, Page 3

POLITICS.

To the Editor of the Oldbe,

Sir,— ln reply to Mr Treadwell, permit mo to Bay that I simply stated what 1 heard Sir George Grey relate at a public meeting, And expressed surprise that be should accept employment and emoluments from a Government which had been the cause of “harrowing his feelings,” when Mr Treadwell, in answer, droliy remarks that I am very ignorant of history. However it seems to me that he baa been led astray by his wonderful “ Sydney History,” wherever he yicked it np. According to this, or his version of it, Sir Georgo became a Governor “ after years of effort." Now for facts:—Sir George Grey was born in 1812. In 1837 ho joined an expedition to explore the west coast of Australia, and in ports of 1837, 1833, and 1839 ho travelled over a considerable portion of Western Australia, In 1840 he was in England preparing his work for publication; and in 1841, at tho age of 29 years, he was appointed Governor of South Australia, then a new colony, and, of course, subordinate to tho Governor-General, The lucky veteran was 29 years old—an ago at which many yonng gentlem.n h ive scarcely left college But, according to Mr Treadwell, it was only after Sir George hal retired from governing that ho was at liberty to open his mouth. Then he found that anobocrats “ had sat down, like dogs in a manger, on enormous landed estates.” A strange discovery for a man who lives on a large island all by himself. The only difference appears to be tbat ho is not a sncboorat. Then, “ Grey sent for 6000 able-bodied men, not paupers.” Yes, sent privately, at the very time when hundreds of able-bodied men were clamoring for work, and he was denouncing immigration. It was hardly probable that the Imperial Government would have sent any bat paupers. Thera aro plenty of ablebodied male paupers In Great Britain, Passing over the usual amount of claptrap about “opening all lands to settlers,” and a few other strange things, I come to Mr Treadwell’s assertion— “ Only poor men ■honld represent. Never said so.” I must confess 1 am not metaphysician enough to discriminate between a poor man and a man without capital, Mr T. says, “Let the cobbler stick to his lost.” Oh I yes, so long as the cobbler, ihe grocer, the bricklayer, the painter, or the pettifogging lawyer are obedient puppets, they are excellent; bnt when they oeaae to danoe to Sir George’s piping, then the rage is tremendous. Sir, I am well aware that Sir George Grey is an able and brave man. What 1 object to are his machiavellan method of dealing with public matters. I may add is that plural voting in local matters was instituted by tho Provinces, and cairied on for years under Sir George’s nose, without rebuke from him. Yovrs, &e., JLYTTELIOiSIAN.