THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2248, 16 June 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1881. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

The debate on tbe Address in Reply was a disappointing one to the outside public, inasmuch as nothing arose therein that might lead lookers-on to judge of the tactics or strength of the Opposition. It is true that Sir George Grey made a virulent attack on the Government, but then people are so accustomed to his outbursts that they count for nothing. Dr. Wallis’ speech was a mere maudlin complaint that Mr Hall and his party had absorbed the leading topics of reform, and had deprived the speaker (Dr. Wallis) of all opportunity of posing as the poor man’s sole friend. Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Bunny both generally upheld the Government, although they regretted that no measure for the reform of local administration was proposed. Although the “ Lyttelton Times,” in this morning’s issue, declares its opinion that Mr. Wakefield’s utterances forecasted a coalition against the Government, we think that most sensible people will not take that view. Our contemporary builds its opinion, with its accustomed fatuous simplicity, on the statements of its “ special correspondent ” in Wellington. On Wednesday that gifted individual declared that a Middle Party was foreshadowed by Mr. Wakefield’s speech; on Thursday he chops round and declares that he (Mr Wakefield) is bidding for a portfolio. All those who have studied the lucubrations of the “ Times’ ” correspondent will know how much value to attach to either of these statements. It is by no moans desirable that members who adhere to the Government policy and general administration should be slavishly led by the Cabinet. There can bo no doubt bat that the question of local self-government is one of much importance, and it is very possible that the Government would have done well to bring in a comprehensive measure on the subject. But it must be remembered that the Government programme is already a very large one, and the Cabinet may have been of opinion that other. measures wore of more pressing importance, and that the local government question might be temporarily dealt with until the wishes of the various constituencies, as indicated during the course of a general election, were made known. Whether such was really the case or not, one thing is very certain, that the several members of the Ministry are not satisfied with the present state of affairs as regards local government, and would welcome any well directed attempt to remedy the evils that are now complained of. If the “ Lyttelton Times ” thinks that a Middle Party is about to be formed, with a “ local government reform platform,” and with no other raison d'etre, we fancy it will find itself very much mistaken. But, indeed, our contemporary is considerably puzzled at the present crisis. During the past few weeks it has constructed and reconstructed combinations of the most varied character. At one time it is an Opposition, built on the present lines, that is coming to the front, and this is to be headed, now by Sir G. Grey, now by Mr. Macandrow, and now by Mr. Ormond. And then the Middle Party fiction is paraded, Mr. Montgomery, who, during the past few sessions, has been the coming light in that direction, being judiciously relegated to outer darkness. All these theories have been built up with the frantic hope that the Government may oppose some measure of reform that the country has set its heart upon. But the country is in a very healthy condition, and the Government are quite on rapport with the larger number of the constituencies. At present the question is more one of in which order the necessary reforms are to bo made, than of what those reforms should be, and it is evident that if their party think that the Government should introduce one reform before another, in an order somewhat different from that adopted, the Cabinet could willingly accede to the request. As for Sir George Grey’s speech on the Address in Reply, it is difficult to make head or tail out of it, and if the Opposition still look upon him as their leader, they will bo somewhat puzzled to

1 understand what ho is aiming at. He states that the Government measures have tended to retard the national progress, but gives no single instance of how they have effected this. Ho denies that public confidence has been increased, and “although trade has revived, the cause is that the public know that they have obtained such liberal measures.” As his own Government passed no liberal measures whatsoever, it is hard to know what is meant by mystic sentence, except that the public rejoice in what has been done by the present Government, but suspect its personnel. If this is the position assumed, wo are perfectly prepared to accept ;it. It matters little what a country may think of the personnel of any Ministry as long as it is satisfied with the legislation performed. “ Meaj sures, not men,” is the creed of all sensible persons, and if Sir George Grey himself would but reform and talk sense desist in setting class against class, cease to look upon the interests of New Zealand as diametrically opposed to the remainder of the British Empire, change his views on economical questions, and, when in power, really lay himself out to do business instead of talking about it, we should bo perfectly content to see him at the head of affairs. But still more puzzling than his ideas on the general prosperity are .Sir George’s utterances on the sale of land on the Waimate Plains. According to him the fact that these plains are being settled on has only benefitted the Colonial Treasurer and his friends. The exPremier reckons as nothing the crushing of the Native difficulty by the settling of a population of industrious farmers, who will shortly be able to take care of themselves. He pooh-poohs the vindication of the colonial honor by the effective carrying out of the confiscation proclaimed in years gone by, or the general increase of public revenue by a considerable extra area of public land being brought into cultivation. These things are nothing compared to the fact that the district with which Major Atkinson is connected will be incidentally enriched by the process. It is hardly possible to imagine a more jaundiced view than that taken by Sir George Grey. The contrast between the past and the present is too strong for him to bear with equanimity, and he revenges himself by a senseless attempt to prove that a great national benefit is, after all, only a successful attempt on the part of a clique to better their own position. Into the remainder of Sir George Grey’s speech it would hardly be profitable to enter. It is bitter without argument, and the most violent member of the Opposition will certainly not feel enspirited after rising from its perusal. We must repeat the statement made at the outset of these few remarks, to the effect that the whole debate on the Address in Reply has boon a disappointing one as not indicating any reasonable line which the opponents of the present Government are likely to take up.