Hawke's Bay Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1868. MR. STAFFORD AND THE PRESS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 544, 20 January 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1868. MR. STAFFORD AND THE PRESS.

“ Nvlliits ad diet us jur are in verba magistri

A bold man is Mr Stafford—rather 100 bold, we suspect. He seems to depend too much upon the position In iias managed to maintain throughout the past year, ami to be too sure of bning able to maintain it still. He affects to despise the power of the Fourth Estate, and has taken every opportunity in his power to throw obstacles in its way. and show his antagonism. He has even gone out, of his way to do this; but we anticipate that his reign is somewhat near at an end.

I The most recent act of the bind | which he has performed was brought 1 1-> light at Napier on the arrival of the (mail by the ‘Bittern, 5 which arrived | from Wellington on the loth instant, i —the said mail containing a Genera! I Government Gazette, bearing date 31st I December, in which appears certain new regulations for the guidance of tiiose employees who happen to be in the Civil Service of the Government. Amongst these regulations is one most strictly prohibiting the communication * o the Press of any information whatever upon any question connected with the Colony, without express permission. Tims— No officer shall ma’seanycommurhcation, directly or indirectly, to the press upon nnv matter affect-' in? the department in which he s-mres, or the hnsiness or the officers thereof, or relating to the Puhi'o Service, or his own official position or ae‘s, or unon any politmal subject or question eonnected with New Zealand, without the express permission or authority of a responsible Minister. A circular bearing something like the same significance, although much less strict in form, was, as our readers will remember, issued to the Government officials some months since,— acting under which the clerks at the various custom-houses in the Colony refused to impart to the Pr c ss the returns of the weekly or monthly receipts of enstoms duties. But the disapprobation occasioned throughout the Colony elicited from the Government that it was not intended to be so understood; that, in fact, it was not

1 intended to withhold from the Press any information which it had been usual to give. And after a time the clerks, upon this explanation, did afford the usual monthly or weekly returns upon the request of a reporter. But it is evident the new regulations 1 cannot, by any stretch of meaning, be made to admit of this, unless such reporter be armed with “ express authority from some responsible minister” do demand the same—which, we need jscarcely say, will not be applied for to j any appreciable extent beyond the few organs in close connection with the. ' Ministry.

Mr Stafford’s position as premier of New Zealand has been held on a most fragile tenure ; he has continued to ’mid it, ia fact, rather because better men were not at hand, or easily obtainable, than from confidence in him, and the return of Mr. Fox to the colony has been anticipated in several quarters with much interest as likely to bring about a much desired change in the conduct of the affairs of the colony. We have not hitherto given expression to any such sentiment, as we have still entertained hopes of seeing some sign of the fulfilment of what the colony expected of Mr Stafford at bis accession to office, but only to be doomed to dis appointment.

That Mr. Fox will shortly take an active part in the government of the colony there can be no doubt, and we also believe that though the extravagant anticipations of his admirers, may prove to be in excess of the truth, there can be no question but the colony will benefit by the change. Mr. Fox has had very considerable experience in the management of the affairs of the colony, and in spite oi some mistakes in his administration, he enjoyed the confidence of his fellow colonists previous to his temporary absence from us ; his late extensive travels must have ad led materially t< his stores of political knowledge, and we can but unite with bis friends in congratulating the colony on his safe return, and on the probability of bitaking a leading position in its govern meut