Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5197, 17 November 1877, Page 2

When Major Atkinson first gave notice of his motion of want of confidence in the present Government Sir Georob Grey pleaded for time to prepare himself for its discussion. The time was granted, and he occupied it in drawing up a manifesto in the shape, of a speech, which was addressed nominally to the House of Representatives, but really over the heads of members to the people outside. It was in truth not an exposition of policy, or a defence of a policy, but a string of stump platitudes, spiced with extreme radicalism, suitable rather for an electioneering address at the hustings than for a deliberative body in, its Council Chamber. Knowing the weakness of his position in the House, and that his violence and extravagance rendered confidence in him or concerted action with him to be impossible, he appeared to believe that his chance of being allowed to direct the public affairs of the colony lay in an appeal to the hustings, and a recourse to the| vulgar weapons of oratory which he has learned to use so dexterously in the presence of a shouting crowd. Now we think that an appeal to the constituencies at this time is not desirable, if it can be by any means avoided. It is not desirable chiefly for the reason that the response when given could not be held truly to represent ' the general opinion, or we ought perhaps to say, the “popular will.” A revision of the electoral laws and a redistribution of the representation on the basis of population and settlement in the several _ districts is urgently needed, but the condition precedent to any action of a legitimate kind in that direction is the taking of the census of the colony, for which provision was made in the early period of die session. That work cannot bo commenced sooner than February or March next, and cannot be completed long before the next

session of Parliament, Upon it the necessary reform can alone be properly, founded. The census will reveal groat changes in the condition of the several . electorates in the different parts of the colony, and will show forcibly the necessity for an alteration of districts and a redistributioh of representation. If there were to be a general election next year, another general election the year following would be an inevitable necessity. A general election is a very costly process, and it does not appear that it would be right to have recourse to it now for the mere sake of enabling Sir George Grey to attempt to impose his individual will for one year upon the Governor of the colony, upon the members of the Executive his colleagues, and upon the majority of the House of Representatives. Until reform of the electoral law has been carefully and soberly effected, therefore, it would seem to be right that the majority in Parliament should be allowed to rule. If Sir George Grey will not bow to the will of the majority, in accordance with all constitutional practice, he must be made to do so. He can be made to do so in a strictly constitutional way, and by a very simple and summary process, to which, in his case, all parties, even his opponents, would regret to be obliged to have recourse. He is a servant of the Crown, and not the master. There is no very general desire amongst the immediate followers of the Premier to be brought face to face with their constituents ; for many of them it would mean political annihilation and an enforced return 'to private life. They know this very well indeed. We think, then, that there will hot be a premature dissolution. We also think that the responsibility of office, and the consequent necessity of quarrelling with everybody, from the Governor downwards, will not stand in the way of Sir George Grey’s return to Kawau at, or even before, the close of the session, unless his sense of duty to the unborn generations should detain, him here to the end.