SIR GEORGE GREY'S RESOLUTIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 194, 7 August 1876, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY'S RESOLUTIONS.

The Evening Post, an Opposition journal, comments as foilowa on Sir George Grey'e speech in moving his resolutions:— Sir George Grey's speech last night in moving the Separation resolutions, was a total failure, and must have caused the utmost disappointment to his supporters. A great opportunity was afforded him to show that he still retained some of hie former ability and creative power; buf, either through incapacity or lack or judgment, he did not avail himself of ft. Any man possessed of average ability, a fair knowledge of public affairs, and ' the power of expressing himself in connected, intelligible language, could have made out an inGnitely better case in support of Separation than Sir G. Grey did last night. The Bpeech was eloquent in the sense that it contained well turned sentences and polished periods— but there was nothing in it about the actual question under consideration. Vox et pratieiei nihil. That constitutes at once ita motto and ita description, so far as it assumed to be a speech on the Separation question. Sir George Grey dealt on all sorts of topics, save that of Separation and the scheme of government which he propessd to eatablish in the event of his resolutions being carried, Heenlaaged, (

and not without a certain degree of eloquence and power, upon the financial embarrassments of the Colony, ita fallen credit, and depreciated debentures. He favored his auditors with a short lecture on Constitutional history, and followed that up by a trenchant attack od the Upper House. Then he made certain telliDg allusions to Sir Julius Voxel's personal expenditure, and the "Dear Pollen" correspondence, which he justly characterised as indicating a state of things utterly disgraceful to the Colony." AH this might appropriately enough have been eaid on other occasions, when speaking to resolutions referring to the several subjects, but it was eutirely out of place last night. Sir George Grey was moving certain resolutions referring to the division of the colony, and the creation of a new form of Government. He ought, therefore, to have stuck to his text, and explained fully the nature and scope of these resolutions. It was only towards the clobq of his speech that he touched on his own proposals, and then his explanation was of the most unsatisfactory kind. •« The resolutions," eaid he, " would command universal respect aud esteem as an instance of patriotism." What nonj sensical language all this is when it is remembered that nothing is said as to what the resolutions will effect, or what form of government they will, if carried, call into existence. Why did I not Sir George Grey explain what was to be the character and functions of the two proposed local parliaments? Why was he entirely silent as to what were to be " the matters of great colonial importance" with which it was contemplated the Federal Government and Parliament should deal? Abova all, why was not one word said explanatory of how it was proposed to provide a system of local self government throughout the several districts of both islands? Sir George soared high above all such practical and matter of fact considerations. He said "they were mere matters of detail, which could be left for future consideration," and then diverged into an impassioned declaration " that an attempt was being made to prevent the people from choo3iug their own form of Government and that if his proposals were carried, the whole question would than be referred to the people." Really this ia very^ tiresome. At the proper time, this journal fought strenuously to have the constitutional question, referred to the people, and heariily supported the party in Parliament who persisted in that demand. Success crowned the efforts then made; tbe demand was conceded, and the people, by a majority, gave their decision at the hustiuge and polling booths in favor of abolition. It is nonsense to talk about appealing to the people again on what is just another phase of the aaine question. The people have spoken out emphatically in favor of abolition, and the sooner that question is dealt with the better will it be for the interests of the colony. The reply of the Premier need not be dealt with. He had scarcely anything to answer, because Sir George Grey had advanced neither facts nor arguments in support of his proposals. If one thing more thau another could have exposed the crudity, weakuess, aud impracticability, of those separation prof posalfl, it was Sir George Grey's speech last night. The separation cause was weak before : it ia now weaker than ever.