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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4413, 12 May 1875, Page 2

Cue. contemporary, the New Zealand. Herald , in a weak article of the Bth inst., purports to reply to our strictures on its own raisleader of a previous date. This article needs no rejoinder from us. The question is begged entirely, and in lieu of argument we have reckless assertion, and the most abject toadying of Sir George Grey. If our contemporary had onlyreprinted our article, he could not have ventured upon such a reply. We observe also that the Opposition Press of Auckland describe the General Government as ‘ ‘ bankrupt. ” It was-just such statements as this, utterly untrue though they were, that compelled Mr. Vogel to have recourse to Messrs. Rothschild and Son to negotiate the loan. We do not accuse our Auckland contemporaries of knowingly writing in the interest of a money ring, which certainly was formed in London to plunder New Zealand, by depreciating its securities and preventing the negotiation of the four million loan except upon its own terms, but the result is precisely the same as if they were in the pay and had been inspired by this ring. Having been foiled in its unholy speculation, colonial detractors work steadily in its service, their sole motive being, (let us charitably hope,) the gratification of personal feeling against certain members of the Colonial Executive.

If the charges of corruption and abuse of power so often made against the Government have any foundation in fact, let them be brought against Ministers in the Assembly in a proper way, and we shall be as ready as any other journal to condemn what may be found amiss. We do not consider the present Government perfection’s self ; —far from it. We think it is weak on many points, mistaken on others, and wanting in that firmness and decision of action which goes straight to the point, especially on this great constitutional question ; but while we say this, are we to hold the Provincial Executives perfect, when we know they are not ? That, however, is the line our contemporaries in Opposition take. They first blacken the Colonial Executive, and then proceed to whitewash Superintendents and their advisers, and exclaim ; “Be- “ hold, how pure they are !” But the country knows better. It knows that there are faults on both sides ; and it condemns the provincial system much more than the men who administer it. And in this respect we are in accord with public opinion.