THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1882. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2510, 25 April 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1882. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The excitement respecting the late political complications has now somewhat subsided, and it is possible to form a general opinion of tho events which have been drawing so much attention during the last few weeks. The action of the Governor will naturally claim prominent attention, and it is not too much to say that he has succeeded in pleasing nobody. The sending for Sir George Grey was a most unfortunate step. As wa have already pointed out, Sir Arthur Gordon ought certainly to have had a decided opinion of his own on the balance of political parties. To consult with one of the most violent partisans in New Zealand in order to gain an idea of the relative strength of the two parties, was one of the most singular and crude ideas possible. Surely, if ho had had any doubts on the subject, the action taken by Mr. Hall should have satisfied him that in the opinion of his late advisers their party was very well able to maintain the fight. Although the Governor has returned into the constitutional track, yet his action has proved that ho has been unwilling at a crisis to be guided by the advice of his constitutional advisers—for the quibble with regard to the Ministers being out of office when the advice was tendered is of course not worthy of consideration. And the positive harm done by the course adopted by Sir Arthur is not small. In the first place, he has succeeded in making more or less a martyr of Sir George Grey. Now, if there is one position in which Sir George poses better than another it is in that of a martyr. He has attained his proficiency in this role from long experience and practice. Of late Sir George has not been a successful man, but he takes care to let the country at large know that he is the victim of widespread conspiracies on the part of people in general. Like Lady Jane in " Patience" he cries "They always crush me;" meaning by " they" the Home Government, all who have any money whether gained by industry and self-denial or by inheritance, and generally all those who do not absolutely agree with his own views. The late episode will give our veteran campaigner a new string to his bow. Should he so wish it, he will be able to stump the country on the strength of a firstclass grievance. Again, the Governor's action will show that the relations between himself and the present Ministry are not of the most cordial nature. Now such an expose is always to be deprecated. In theory, at all events, if relations between Ministers and a Governor are strained, it should not be for long. The Queen, who has infinitely more right than a colonial Governor to have her likes and dislikes, swallows her natural antipathies when necessary. It is a well-known fact that she strongly objected to send for Mr. Gladstone, and yet she did as she was in duty bound. The Queen inherits traditions which might justify her, if such a thing could be justified, in occasionally departing from the beaten track. But she has the good sense to know that her first duty is towards tho exalted position she occupies, and not towards her private feelings. The action of Sir Arthur Gordon, in appearance at all events, seemed to justify a suspicion that he has of late been rather forced by circumstances into co-operating with his Minis! ry, than that he has cordially supported the actions of the gentlemen chosen by the country to conduct its business.

There are two other points also which have to be considered in this matter. The rapid change of front in political matters has detrimentally affected the Native mind. The cry raised at Parihaka of " Kapai Sir George," and the general impression that another millenium of irresolntion on the part of the Native office was about to dawn cannot fail to have evil results. The good done by the firm yet humane attitude of the late Government must naturally be weakened when tho Maoris think that it is well on the cards that the old state of affairs may once more be established. And lastly, a fortnight's valuable time has been wasted at a critical period before the session, and the new Ministry, if they are not prepared with their measures, will be able to fall back on the excuse that they would have been so, had not the business of the preparation for the session been so violently interrupted. Ministries have, under any circumstances, a happy knack of meeting the House in a state of unproparedness, but the present one will have a valid reason why it is somewhat backward in its work; and this is a misfortune. With regard to the chances of tho present Ministry of standing, it is impossible at present to do more than guess. The loss of Mr. Hall is, of course, the most serious blow that could have happened to the party. He has been a most ablo pilot, and his patience and conciliatory disposition have proved invaluable. Moreover, the real head of the Government will no longor bo in the Lower House, and this will be an element of weakness. But on tho other hand the Government will meet Parliament with the evidences of most efficient adminisstration during the past year. If all that is reported to us is true, the year's transactions will show a balance of hard on £200,000 to the good. Much of this is, of course, due to the general revival of trade, but much also must be placed to the credit of sound administration and the carrying out of a thorough policy of retrenchment. "We fancy, when matters are prospering so well, many members who have, apparently, as yet not made up their minds as to which side they will favor, will think twice before they attempt to turn out a party that has done so much for New Zealand. Much, too, will depend on the strength of the now Minister who will be chosen to fill Mr. Hall's place. We trust that the

Ministry will discard for good and all the pernicious practice of picking a man because he happens to belong to a certain locality, The late elections will surely have shown that constituencies are not won over by such tacti3s. Moreover, in its own constitution tho Ministry has certainly not been strengthened by this pernicious policy. The beet available man should be chosen quite regardless of tho place where he resides. With the addition of a really able man to the Ministry and with a large balance to show, tho now Ministry should have a very good chance of establishing itself in the good graces of the country.