SIR GEORGE GREY’S SPEECHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY’S SPEECHES.

We have a difficulty in dealing with Sir George Grey’s Auckland speech. That it was a most successful address appears pretty evident, and furthermore, Sir George carried his audience along with him. They were enthusiastic in their reception of him, and their enthusiasm was sustained throughout his speech. Nor is this at all to be wondered at. Sir George Grey possesses the art of putting things pleasantly, and having the field all to himself, being at the same time bent upon pleasing and persuading, we can conceive that his triumph was undoubted.

But Sir George Grey spoke to the country as well as to the electors of Auckland. He addressed himself to large constitutional questions, and he opened besides quite a hostof minor questions that have slumbered in New Zealand. From this day forward, however, these will not be permitted to slumber. The attention of tlie colony has been turned to them by a master of political chicane. He has thrown open a wide vista to ambitious noliticians, along which, with himself as guide, they may hope to travel to Britain, not in the humble capacity of Agents-General, or as New Zealand Commissioners, but as Secretaries of State and members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. Nay more, Sir George has fixed the salary to be paid to this high functionary. “ £2OOO or £2500 per an- “ num would make him a very great man “ indeed, with a salary more than any “ American ambassador received.” But this is not all. He would elect the Governor, in the same way that the North American colonies elected their Governors, and as the several States of the Union now elect their Republican successors. Here is a programme calculated to “ raise the position of colonial “ statesmen, and give a worthy object of ambition to every colonist.” Sir George has touched a sympathetic chord, which is certain to vibrate widely throughout the colony, and “ across the water,” where Australian statesmen are not without ambition to distinguish themselves in the field of Imperial politics. Sir George CtREY makes a high bid for popularity, and we should not be surprised if he mustered a considerable following. His outline is so very grand and imposing, that ambitious politicians—and all politicians are ambitious will spurn the paltry prizes which may be won under the existing system— Who that, from Alpine heights, his laboring eyo Shoots round the wide horizon, to survey Nilus or Ganges rolling his bright wave Through mountains, plains, through empires black with shade. And continents of sand, will turn his gaze To mark the windings of a scanty rill That murmurs at his feet ? The high-born soul Disdains to rest her heaven-aspiring wing Beneath its native quarry.

Sir George Grey’s appeal to the active ambition of men is admirable; but. the artistic way in which he has placed all the mothers of the colony, babes in arms, upon the Alpine height of his imagination, is really a study. He has secured the female vote for certain. “He earnestly desired that “ every mother, looking at a clever son, “ might be able to believe that the time “ would come when all his fellow-citizens “ would recognise his worth, and that ho “ would become a blessing to the country;” and then he unrolled the wonderful scroll of political preferments, on which he had inscribed “Superintendent,” “Governor,” “ Secretary of State,” “ Privy Councillor “ with £2500 per annum,” and “ K.C.8.” The appeal is irresistible. It touches the only weak point in woman —her maternity. What mother ever had a stupid son ; or, at all events, who ever heard a mother admit the fact 1 A mother’s geese are all swans ; her sons are all clever. Wherefore, Sir George may reckon upon having the female influence on his side in the political contest which ho is precipitating with all his might. And it is not by any means a weak element in an election, as any one who has contested a seat very well knows. Ho has had the first word, and his success is assured. Like “ The Olockmaker ” in the story, “ soft sawder and human natur’ ” worked the charm for him.

We do not clearly understand SirG. Grey’s programme on the Auckland City West hustings. What does ho mean by saying ‘ ‘ that when the other provinces came and “threatened to abolish Auckland, they commenced the war?” Wo have no knowledge of such a threat by the other provinces. The abolition resolutions were

supported by a majority of Auckland members, and whatever may be said for or against them, it cannot be affirmed that they originated in any feeling of hostility towards Auckland by neighboring provinces. In fact, with-the exception of the small outlying provinces or districts of Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay, “ the provinces,” as typified by Superintendents and Provincial Secretaries, resisted the proposal with the utmost vigour. The measure was proposed by the Government as a broad question of policy. As such it should be considered ; but Sir George Grey makes a local question of it, and endeavors to foment provincial antipathies which were gradually dying out. We would be the last to recommend any measure that would tend to injure Auckland. Indeed, we do not suppose there is a public man in the colony who could be capable of such an act of folly ; but we have yet to learn that the abolition of Provincial Government in Auckland and Wellington would tend, either directly or indirectly, to injure one or other place. We hold a very strong opinion to the contrary. Of course, we may be wrong; but until we are convinced by arguments, based upon facts, that we are so, we must decline to be led by broad and sweeping assertion even by Sir George Grey. When we protested against that gentleman reviving provincial jealousies by his speech to the Auckland electorate, while yet a candidate for the Superintendency, we did so because we felt that it was unbecoming one in his high position, who had twice governed the colony of New Zealand, to endeavour to make political capital by setting the small provincial communities by the ears. We regret, however, that Sir George justifies his conduct, and still more so that his justification is based upon an assumption which has no foundation in fact. The other provinces have not commenced the war : they do not propose to abolish Auckland, and deprive its people of their constitutional rights ; in short, the other provinces neither make nor meddle with Auckland. The proposal for abolishing Provincial Government in the North Island, as we have already said, is one that has been considered by the Colonial Legislature, on the motion of the Premier of New Zealand, and it is, therefore, a colonial question.

But our protest against Sir George Grey’s revival of the old spirit of provincial jealousy was justified on other grounds. If he had referred to the division list, he would have seen that amongst those who voted against the Government proposition was Mr. ■ George Hunter, one of the two members for the City of Wellington, not to speak of Mr. Fitzherbert, the Superintendent of Wellington, and Mr. Bunny, Provincial Secretary, while the other member for the Capital does not appear to have voted. Does that look, like any hostile spirit against Auckland on the part of the prominent public men in this province ? Does it not, on the contrary, refute Sir George Grey’s assertion, and demonstrate the friendly feelings cherished towards Auckland, at all events by inlluential men in Wellington? Indeed, if he had studied the division lists he would not have hazarded such a sweeping accusation against “ the other provinces.” The admission that Wellington would always be a great city, owing to its favorable position for commerce, and to its back country which the railways will open, is only what might have been expected from Sir George, who knows every part of the North Island ; nor do wo question the accuracy of his anticipation of a prosperous future for Auckland. But all this is apart' from the constitutional question which is before the country. Does any one mean to say that without Provincial Government the goldfields of theNorthwouldnotbe developed? What had the Superintendent and his Executive to do with the opening of Ohinemuri to the miners, which has already added considerably to the population of Auckland province? Nothing; absolutely nothing. The forests and minerals and soil would be utilised if there was no Provincial Government in existence ; wherefore it is idle to argue, in the way Sir George Grey does, as if the existence of provincial institutions had something to do with the fertility of the soil and salubrity of the climate of Auckland.

Sir George Grey sees nothing at all in the present system to deserve its continuance : referring, doubtless, to the present parliamentary system. If the General Assembly’s proceedings at Wellington are at all like unto the caricature of British representative institutions to which Sir George compared them, we go with him in saying that these should be abolished. We are not by any means enamoured by the present system, as we have more than once had occasion to remark. Parliamentary Government can hardly be said to exist in this colony, but Sir George Grey’s friends out of office declare there is not the material from which to construct Party Government. We doubt this, however ; and Sir George, instead of attempting to split up the colony into petty states, should lend the influence of his name and talent to consolidate the Government, and complete our parliamentary system. Ho need never expect to succeed in his scheme of subordinating the Colonial Legislature to Provincial Councils. The strong will not succumb to the weak, nor the supreme voluntarily subordinate itself to the inferior authority. It is utter folly to go upon an assumption to the contrary. What Sir George Grey has got to do, is to take facts as he finds them, and do the best he can with the material at his disposal. By acting thus ho may succeed to some extent in doing good to the province of which he is Superintendent, and to the colony at large. Otherwise, he will be powerless to accomplish any good end. “If Auckland had what she was en- “ titled to she would still be able to carry “ on public works successfully.” Wc really do not know what is the meaning of this sentence, standing alone in the telegraphic report of Sir George Grey’s speech. It cannot have reference to the vote of £60,000 for roads and works north of Auckland, because the Assembly prescribed the manner in which this vote was to be expended. If there has been waste or misapplication of the vote, Sir George has a seat in the House of Representatives where he may call the Government to account ; and he must certainly know that Mr. Vogel does not personally control that expenditure as Treasurer during his absence from the colony. Sir George is very severe also in his strictures upon the Ministry. “ Without “Mr. Vogel,” he says, “the present ‘ ‘ Government would fall to pieces “directly. Was it right that the inter- “ ests of the colonists should be sacrificed “for one man?” This is a swooping condemnation, for if it means anything it moans that the members of his Excellency’s Executive are sacrificing the interests of the colony in the absence of Mr. Vogel. In what way are these interests being sacrificed ? Let us once see this clearly, and we shall join Sir George Grey in demanding a change of Ministry.

The interests of the country should not be sacrificed for one man, nor for a dozen of men, however capable they may be. Having gone so far, Sir George should be more specific. He should come to particulars, and tell the country how its interests are being sacrificed by the gentlemen who are now advising his Excellency. Such an accusation, from such a quarter, should be backed by proof. Sir George Grey is not a raw politician. He understands the force of any words he may use ; he speaks with the full sense of responsibility which attaches to his office and personal reputation. Let us have something more than vague charges, therefore, and should he convince the country that he is right, it will not be slow to follow him. He demands that the Assembly should be convened at once, and “ that Auckland “ should be granted what she is entitled “to.” There must surely be some real danger to the country, or Sir George would not recommend an emergency session of the Assembly. He could never advocate such an extreme step as that on the sole ground of there being a disputed balance between the Colonial Treasury and the Provincial Treasury of Auckland. The present is not the only occasion when disputes of a similar kind have occurred. We are almost inclined to think that these disputes are chronic ; but we have also strong reasons for declaring that they may at all times be satisfactorily adjusted without convening Parliament to take cognisance of them. In conclusion, we would say that Sir George Grey has either gone too far or he has not gone quite far enough. The country, whose interests are being sacrificed, wants to know something more specific than his Honor the Superintendent of Auckland has been pleased to tell it.