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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5274, 18 February 1878, Page 2

We are satisfied that it is hopeless attempting to convince men like Mr. John Martin, Mr. R. J. Duncan, Mr. J. 11. Wallace, and a few other of the same class of politicians ; but in justice to some of their deluded followers, we think it well to recall to their recollection the so-called separation resolutions. A perusal of “Hansard,” Nos. 13 to 18, of the session of 1876, would be instructive reading as to Sir George Grey’s views on the seat of Government question, and would also enlighten them as to the opinions of the Premier held by some of his warmest supporters at the present time —even including some of bis Ministers. However, what we chiefly desire to refer to is the separation resolutions of Sir George Grey, when lie voted against the seat of Government remaining at Wellington. As a prelude to these resolutions, Sir George Gray stated at Auckland:—“The next thing we come to consider is, what is to be done' about the General Assembly? I believe if the General Assembly is allowed to remain at Wellington, and everything is to be swept away from Auckland by degrees, that the future of Auckland will in many respects be a gloomy one. I have no hesitation in saying, on the other hand, if you reduce the General. Assembly to the lowest possible limit, make them meet only every two or three years, and in some part of the colony which is central to all, and which need not be a town unless desired, you will make this place Sydney, some other place Melbourne, another place Adelaide, and your place will rise in- importance in every way.” Farther on he stated he “ believed that Auckland will really become the seat of Government again." His famous separation resolutions provided that Auckland should be the capital of the North Island, and to catch the Canterbury vote he proposed that Christchurch should be the capital of the Smith Island. Wellington was to be a sort of a Federal capital, where a few delegates would meet every few years. However, Sir George Grey was foiled in his attempt to injure Wellington. The Canterbury men were loyal to the unity of the colony, al- - Sir George Grey also promised that the Middle Island Land Fund should remain untouched. He tried every shift and dodge to get the Canterbury vote, but failed. Since then he has evinced a strong hatred to the Canterbury runholders. Therein lies the secret of his desire to burke the Laud Bill, for it provided for an additional tenure of the runs. As we pointed out in a previous issue, the pastoral leases do not debar settlement. ■ To-morrow the Government could throw open any portion of the runs for settlement. The sole and only reason which has influenced the Premier in his shameful attempt to burke the Land Bill was the action of the Canterbury men on the separation and seat of Government resolutions. Mr. Rolleston and those gentlemen who act with him have constantly been taunted with “hovering round Cook Strait,” because they steadily set their face agaiust the dismemberment of the colony. Are the electors of Wellington to return a man who will give an unqualified support to a Ministry whose chief has shown such a decided animus to the men who stuck to colonial interests when their votes were of the very highest importance. Let the electors look to the future. We trust that the doctors of Wellington to-day will be loyal to the unity of the colony, and will vote fur the man upon whom they can rely in the hour of danger.

“How can Major Atkinson’s Ministry be considered friends of the poor man? Did they not introduce a measure last session raising the price of land,” said Mr. Hutchison on Friday night. “ You forget the Bill, it was Sir George Grey’s Waste Lauda Bill which raised the price,” whispered a friendly reporter of an evening contemporary ; but Mr. Hutchison pretended not to hear him. The candidate must have trusted immensely to the dense ignorance of Parliamentary proceedings of those who heard him. We were of opinion that there were not twenty persons in the community, who take an interest in current events, who were not aware that it was Sir George Grey’s Waste Lands Bill which doubled the price of laud in the North Island. This, at the time, was impressed upon the minds of the people by the fact that two or three speculators, a few hours prior to the Bill becoming law, walked into , the Land Office in Wellington and purchased every available acre of land at half the price they would have paid the following day. No steps had been taken by the Ministry to withdraw the laud from sale. Had Major Atkinson’s Ministry been guilty of such gross carelessness, Sir George Grey would have made the walls of Parliament echo to the cry of corruption. Mr. Hutchison was thoroughly acquainted with all this. Was not a portion of the famous T.30Q0 Corporation cheque, which Mr. Hutchison signed, converted the very day it was issued into ten shilling per acre land ? That much was admitted by the witnesses before the Investigation Committee of the City Council.

Comment lias been made in certain quarters as to the arrangements for hurrying on the election, and baseless insinuations have been thrown out against the supporters of Mr. Pearce. Of course, anyone with a grain of knowledge in such matters knows perfectly well that all election arrangements are in the hands of the Government. The whole thing is perfectly plain, and he who runs may read. It needed no good authority to inform us that tho Ministry were quite willing to accept the return of Mr. Pearce. They much preferred to see in the House a gentleman, who although in opposition would give them a fair trial, than a man upon whom they could not rely, and who might desert them at the moment of the greatest peril. The Grey Ministry, like every administration which preceded them, have

too many men o£ that stamp amongst their followers. An open foe is often preferable to an untrustworthy ally. Besides, the Ministry have already been troubled sufficiently with billot hunters. We have little hesitation in saying, looking at the arrangements made for the election, that even Ministers themselves would prefer Mr. Pearce to Mr. Hutchison.