New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5106, 4 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1877.

The position in which the Opposition found themselves last night must have been trying even to men with very little They had to perform the operation practised rii'ore than once last year —that of throwing their leader overboard. Then Sir G. Grey sat silent and unsupported when the Government asked him to make good his challenge thrown down only an hour before, and each member- of the- Opposition - tried a different manoeuvre to avoid an honest answer. Finally, in despair, the greatest bore-power in the House was laid on ; to stop the discussion by simple lung-exer-cise. Is it any wonder that the Opposition fails to command.the respect of the country, when'its legitimate functions of honest criticism are neglected for eel-like manoeuvres and evasions ? On Thursday Mr. Rees brings forward, a motion dealing with a question which is sub jwdice , and makes a speech in; favor of one of the'parties to the case pending ; —going out’ of his way at the same time to assure the House that he has no intention whatever of making the question a party one. Neither the Government nor the House had any reason whatever to suppose that a motion introduced by a gentleman who has no great standing in Parliament—a motion which had no chance of being carried should be treated as a cause for stopping the business of the ‘ country ;- the- more”so as it ‘dealt with a question which,; under- the circumstances, should not- have -been discussed. But the very next day, when Mr. Wakefield, a gentleman who enjoys the confidence of nobody, suggested that the Government were acting disgracefully in not treating Mr. Rees’ motion as one of want of confidence, his congenial friend Mr. Rbes: jumped at the suggestion., and, ;contradioting his statement of the day before, accepted the roll of quasi leader offered to him. So long as this sort of game was confined to these Wo, gentlemen no notice would probably, have been taken of their tall talk. At arig rate, the Government Would have been very- unwise f to waste the time of the House,in doing so. But the reputed leader of the Opposition thought he had a chance of mischief arid of delaying the business of the -Country, and as this is his only idea of political duty he could riot have been expected to let it pass. : ! He cheered Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Rees, and then, unable to restrainhis sympathy for kindred souls, distinctly challenged the Government to test the motion ;as; one ,of want of- confidence. When the House met after the half-hour adjournment, the Premier at once Stated that the leader of the Opposition had given a to the position, and palled on Sir George Grey to say what he meant. No one over knew him to dp he could help it. On* this he took refuge in silence, while the scattered .Opposition .tried every, ingenious and disingenuous device to-avoid the issue, raised.:. Is Sir George Grey leader of the’Opposition 1 : If ho is; his’conduct last night was ; to .the last degree cowardly. He h.ad thrown,out a challenge..to, men agriinst ' whom -he is 1 always ' bringing yagufe rambling accusations.'’ When met, he was dumb. If be ds not leader /pf the Opposition, he assumesg rinder 'false, pro-, fences’privileges, which are allowed, to him in that, character, and which ho has no fight. to claim, on . any other ground. We do not for a moment suppose that he will appreciate-the ’dilemma for l ill all questions of political: morality he has fever shown thfe-’capacitiea of ari eel. ’ Brit .what are we to say of . the mien who cheer •this 1 kind of . conduct ?, The only , ipari among the 1 Opposition who' was to ' bo pitied.was^Mr. - S,heehanJ He did not, like his friends, shirk the issue arid try toi.thrpw the -,blame; of their .disgrace .on 'others,- He -felt the wrong position, and jhe vsaidiso- like a man. But ; he,was .not working with those who appreciate: a manly attitude. '