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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4240, 22 October 1874, Page 2

Sir George Grey once more appears upon the New Zealand political arena, and we must admit that his appearance altogether alters the general features of the agitation for Constitutional amendment. Our telegraphic column contains what wo accept as a faithful summary of the memorial which Sir George Grey has felt it to be his duty to address to the Governor, hut there are manifestly important connecting links omitted. Now, we should be sorry to prejudice the case which Sir George Grey makes, but as we read it, we think it is incomplete. No doubt, it makes the boat possible'case for the provincialists, but we fail to see how the abolition of provincial institutions would result in the establishment of a form of government “ repugnant to that of “ Great Britain.” Surely this is a rather finedrawn objection. Grantedthat, should Provincial Government be abolished, the colonists would only be represented in one branch of the Legislature, the Crown nominating the other branches—the Governor and Legislative Council how would such a constitution be repugnant to that of Great Britain 1 Do the people of England elect the Sovereign ? Are the Peers nominated by popular suffrage 1 In what branch of the Imperial Legislature are the people represented save one—the House of Commons ? There may be something in the other arguments of Sir George Grey —and we don’t say there is not—but the argument to which we have referred is quite untenable. We regret that the text of Sir George Grey’s petition is not before us, but we shall return to the subject. It would be a poor compliment to such a man, were his solemn protest passed lightly by at such a time. There are few men in or out of New Zealand of whom we entertain so high an opinion as we do of Sir George Grey, and although we may differ from him on some points, yet we feel pleasure indeed in the fact that at last he has broken silence, and has taken his proper place as a leading, if not the loading, colonist of New Zealand.