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New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1875.

There is every probability of the Auckland Superintendency election being a walk-over for Sir Georoe Grey. Since the publication of his address, the conviction seems to have forced itself upon Mr. Dargaville's mind that hisown chance of success was so exceedingly slight he had much better retire gracefully from the contest he had provoked, than risk certain defeat. This he has done, the telegraph informs us. " Mr. Dargaville '' has issued an address stating that in " consequence of the new and favorable " litrht thrown on Sir George Grey's " views by his published address, and the " fact that his views coincide so closely " with Mr. Dargaville's own, he has " decided to withdraw from the candida- " ture for the Superintendency."" This is a wise determination, and is satisfactory in two ways. First, it saves the cost and excitement of a contested election ; second, it prevents a false issue being raised. Mr. Daroaville announced himself as opposed to provincialism; Sir George Grey is the champion of that system ; but then, Sir George would have been elected upon personal grounds, without reference to his political opinions. His return, however, in the event of a contest, would have been regarded as a triumph by the Superintendental party, which it would not have been in reality. Now, however, his unopposed return will be without political significance of any kind, more especially as his published address is of such a character that it might be generally accepted by his opponents. Nothing could more strikingly illustrate the force of public opinion upon the question of constitutional reform than Sir George Grey's address to the Auckland electorate, when contrasted with his first indignant protest against the proposed changes. "In his retirement," he has told the constituency of the Northern province, "he had reflected much,_ under " undisturbed and favorable circum- " stances ;" and the practical conclusions to which he appears to have arrived are these--that the majority of the inhabitants of New Zealand are not so enamored of Provincialism as he had imagined they were, and that, so far from being ready to fly to arms in their defence, they would be delighted to have thein abolished. ' ' Although strongly attached to Provin- " cial institutions, he well knew it was " the duty of every man to yield up his "views and wishes to the majority "of his fellow-countrymen, when these " views were ascertained by constitu- '' tional means, and clothed with the "authority of the. law. Whatever form " of Government was introduced for Now "Zealand he would endeavor to make it " a success." This is language which the most ardent abolitionist might use. The constitutional change is proposed to be made "by constitutional means,"-namely, by the authority of Parliament, which will "clothe it with the authority of "law." It is only reasonable to expec,t, as Sir George does, that the Government should " state in detail the nature "of the institutions they proposed to "take the place of existing provincial "ones." But everything in its proper time and place.. When the'Government measure is introduced, doubtless these details will be set out with sufficient minuteness. The ex-Governor, however, thinks that..these details should be laid before the country for consideration prior to Parliament having had them before it. This would.i be putting the • cart: before the horse—an awkward contrivance certainly, but one which has often been attempted in New Zealand politics, to tho knowledge of Sir George Grey. There is one statement in the Kawau addresswhich is worthy of all commendation. Sir George "considered the'office " of Superintendent to be .executive, and " not political. Therefore, if elected,,lie " would not use his position for political " purposes, but .faithfully to administer " the Jaws and means'placed, at his dis- " posal, and strive to obtain the rights of " the people of the province, whether '' pecuniary or. otherwise," The latter part of this sentence' is surplusage. It simply means, ; that if elected, Sir George will faithfully "discharge the duties of the office—which'is taken for granted without any affirmation on his part. But the pith of the matter lies in his assurance that, he will not use his position as Superintendent for political purposes. It would be well for the colony if the Superintendents of provinces had abstained from using their position for political ends ; but that was the use which was ordinarily, made by them of their position. ■ They i overlooked the fact, which Sir George Grey states explicitly, that the office of Superintendent was " executive," arid riot " political;" hence they succeeded in bringing it into contempt. So far, therefore, as Sir George i 3 concerned, he will stand, out of the Superintendental ring, and attend solely to the executive work of his office.

We need not enlarge upon the general features of the policy which is enunciated by Sir Geoege, inasmuch as these have been, times and again, advocated in our own columns. The vigorous prosecution of the Public Works and Immigration policy, the settlement of the waste lands by an industrial population, the relaxation of the laws affecting the miners, the necessity for revising the fiscal system with a view to removing inequalities of taxation, and a,uniform system of secular education, have been repeatedlyadvocatod by ourselves. It is gratifying therefore to find that there is so much in common between those who support the Government and Sir George Grey. When, hovvover, he demands that the lands purchased from the natives should be handed over to the provinces for their use and benefit, he treads on debateable ground. This is a large question, which cannot be properly dealt with at the end of an article like this It is one, however, that must be considered, and settled in the interest of the public at large. With regard to the necessity for establishing a more complete system of local self-government, that is, of local administration, than at present exists, every one will agree with Sir George. This is precisely the direction in which the Government's proposal tends; It may not havo gone far enough in the first instanco to satisfy every one, but it is susceptible of extension. On that head, Sir George Grey will doubtloss find himself fully satisfied. "If the pro- " vinces wore to bo swept away," lie

•writes; ;:" he should desire\ to see* the '" change made* a general one, and' have "such institutions established in,peace, "so as'to | secure to New Zealand' gene- ;" rally those j extensive rights "to legislation and otlrer which " the provinces now possessed ; and to "country districts a large share of local "self-government, and a greatly more' " direct control over local revenues than " they now had.".-. These opinions are held by the vast majority of the population. We think they are unexceptionable, aud cannot, but express our satisfaction that Sir George Grey has placed them on record. .'•'_.'..'

It is not our purpose now to speak of the general questions raised by him during his interview with the deputation that waited on him regarding the Superintendoncy. Suffice it to state that there is little new or striking, and what there is which might fairly be classed under either head, is utterly impracticable. The reform of the Legislative Council may be accomplished in. time ; but the idea of electing colonial representatives, who should have "the status of a Secretary of State at Home, and who should " advise her Majesty on all questions "affecting the colony" which each one represented, is simply absurd. Leaving, however, the purely speculative for the practical details of Sir George Grey's policy, we have little or nothing to take exception to.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750309.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4358, 9 March 1875, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,253

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1875. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4358, 9 March 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1875. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4358, 9 March 1875, Page 2

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