THE Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 1879. THE POOR COCKATOOS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 86, 25 October 1879, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 1879. THE POOR COCKATOOS.

——— ———- J ."Words are-things,'and a drop of- ink. lolling Hko . dew upon a-thought. produces tlu-t wtuclj makes thousands, perhaps millions think."

The colleagues oi tho Hon. Johis" Hall havo been known ur the Ministry oi Defeats, the Still-born Ministry, -and the Barmcles, but it remained "for the Hon. the Premier himself to bestow upon thera their •last and most-fitting appellation — the Cockatoos. ~ The designation, although singularly appropriate, was by no means a happy one, and Sir G-EOBcra Gtbet' replied, that "they all knew that a cockatoo would often say, when perched aloft, 'Poor cocky,' and yet much as they might pity ihe poor bird, chained m an uncomfort--aK.tv puaitmn; in*e*y^"c7"TKT not pfty. the hon. gentleman 'cockatoo' who would not leave a post he had no right to hold." Tho course adopted by tho political pirates who have gained' possession of the Ship of State is without precedent m this or any other colony, and should certainly be. the signal for having them hurled from the perch, to which they so tenaciously cling. -Tho unblushing audacity and cool effrontery of attempting to govern the country, while both Parliament and poople alike cry aloud for their expulsion, is without parallel or precedent,, and . only serves to sho'v to' what disgraceful lengths the unscrupulous gang who have seized upon tho public purse are prepared to go before they surrender their spoil. The Opposition are quite prepared to vote supplies, so that th© machinery of public service may he kept going, but they very properly claim their constitutional right .. of stating their grievances at -the same time. Had trie Government the welfare of the people at heart, they won Id immediately accept tho terms, and waiving all selfish considera' tions, allow the business of the country to be proceeded with liy boldly confronting the clanger with wliich they are threatened. Taking advantage of the adverse vote which defeated Sir GEOita*s Grey, Mr. Hall assumed the reins of power m a manner which was positively indecent, if not illegal, and no ruse or artifice wae left undone to win followers to his side. The ' Natives were flattered, promised, and cajoled, while the House and the country were promised such horrible revela-* tions anent the Native Department > as was to irredeemably alienate al. 1 sympathy and support from the'late | Liberal Ministry.- The Native Statement was made by Mr. Bryce, and both friends and foes were upon the tip-toe of expectation, but the expose did not eventuate, and the damning disclosures were, proved— as it was thought they would — to bo I a nfythj^and merely a red-herring 1 drawn across the scent. The duplicity and cowardice pf the accusations has, however, worked its own condemnation, f3r several of th« former supporters, men of honorable instincts, have turned * their -backs upon them and crossed the floor of the House. This disgust 'is not confined alone to the European members, for we find Mr. Toivtqana, whom the conspirators vainly supposed ihey had bribed with a moc'r seat -in "the Cabinet, saw through their artful and treacherous designs, and m "the most public manner repudiated further connection with stioli a Miuistry.. -There ( Could "be no doubt of the opinion entertained by Mr;!. Tcj^oana about; inj| .

quorjdaui associates, which was declared to the Hons'e m the following expressive language : — ' - Ho said he oniv a few words to say. He had listened to all the Native Minister, Mr. Bryce, had said m his statement on Native affairs, After he had heard the statement he became very dark within himself. He failed to gatlvr anything from it that would benefit, the Maori people. It was true that lie had said that when he had voted with Mr. Hall that he would give his vote as a chief. What he had now to. say was that the Government must look for some other Maori to sit m his place on the«e benohes. He had voted as a Chief, and he left the benches as a Chief, because he was not satisfied with Mr. Hall's policy. Mr. Tomoana then left the Government benches, bowed to the Speaker, and took his old seat along with the other Native representatives. To men possessed of a particle of shame, the reproach conveyed m the open disaffection of a colleague— to secure whom such questionable tactics had been employed— would he sufficient to compel them to retire into obscurity, but evidently it Mould tak^ considerably more than thnt to ruffle the nlvnnage of the "Cockatoos." Had they the gift of speech like Stlbrxts'* starling— or rather, were, they inclined to use it— the burden of their refrain would not be " I can't eet out," but " we won't go out." Desperate eases require desperate remedies,* and as gentle suasion seems powerless to expel the usurpers, they should receive a Hibernian "broad hint," and o ye their exit to a pedal propulsion from behind, y