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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5331, 29 April 1878, Page 2

It is a remarkable fact that a good cause is frequently injured and damaged by the injudicious advocacy of those who espouse it, and the intemperate letter published in the Evening Post last Saturday afternoon is another , notable illustration of this truth. We may state at once that we sympathise in the fullest sense with the feeling which induced the Rev. Mr. Coffey to pen the letter in question,, but as a general rule we entertain the opinion that clergymen weaken their influence for good by constantly appearing before the public in print, and especially when they touch in any way on subjects of a political character, and use strong and intemperate language, and make rash assertions. We are at one with the reverend gentleman in disputing the propriety or right of the Government to issue any such edict as that to which exception is taken. We contend that this is a subject on which Parliament 1 ought to have been consulted, and the opinion, of the representatives of the people, ascertained before any action was taken, and we are fully convinced that no matter what Sir George GußYand his Ministry may resolve upon, they will not be permitted to break faith and perpetrate a great wrong. Men who have served the public faithfully and honestly need not be * the least alarmed, they' and those' most near and dear to theiri will never be wronged by any Legislature composed of _ Englishmen, | good faith will be maintained; and every honorable understanding fulfilled. It is a pity that Mr. Coffey did not pause and consider for a moment before pennirig such nonsense as the following : —“ Let him sell the Hinemoa and stump the country at his own expense. Let him sell those Ministerial residences which cost the country £BOOO or £9OOO last year.” Mr. Coffey, is supposed to have made himself acquainted with the discussions that took place in Parliament last session, and must be well aware that these modes of effecting retrenchment were fully debated. Committees were appointed, arid reports brought up, but Parliament refused to sanction the sale of the Ministerial residences or to allow the Hinemoa, to be . sold. It is therefore absurd to call upon Sir George Grey to do that which has been expressly forbidden. Residents in Wellington ought never to forgot that , there are other portions of the colony that have to be governed, and their interests equally considered; Theheads of departments,suchaa the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, the Collector of Customs, PostmasterGeneral, and others, require to visit* all the principal; towns and ports; they must rind ought not to rely solely upon the reports sent in by subordinate’ officers. And there is also another very good reason 'why the services of the Hinemoa' cannot be dispensed with. His Excellency the Governor requires a little change and relaxation occasionally; and it is his duty to visit, when in his power, the different large centres of * population in various parts of the colony. The question of maintaining Minis-

terial residences is one that materially affects the good government of New Zea-' land. Under our popular form of administration, constitutional as it is termed, changes are very frequent, gentlemen residing at Auckland or Dunedin, it they do their duty, are liable at any moment to be called upon to take office and form one of a new Ministry. Surely under such circumstances it is only reasonable that the State should provide them with comfortable residences. They may be turned out of office at a day’s notice, and therefore it would not be safe to lease such houses as a Minister ought to occupy for any very long term. The subject has been discussed over and over again, and the result arrived at was that if the colony is to be well governed and theprinoipalof constitutional administration maintained, the people must be prepared to pay the expense, and not grumble at the coat. We again repeat that we do not think that the civil servants need be the least alarmed. They are a respectable, powerful, and influential body. The services they have rendered, and are rendering to the colony daily, are not likely to be overlooked or forgotten. Their value is recognised on all hands, and few think that they are overpaid of highly favored. J ust now it is thought to be one means of gaining the favor of those who rule the colony to run down the officers of the Civil Service ; but the public know better. Here, at any rate, their individual and collective merits are known and appreciated, and the cry will never go down, although backed up by all Sir Gboege Grey’s ■ power and influence. The feeling entertained by Parliament was very plainly expressed on two occasions , during the last session. First, when the Premier’s attempt to reduce the salaries of Ministers was defeated; arid second, when the miserable endeavor to prevent justice being done to Sir Julius "Vogel xvas frustrated, and the sum he was so justly entitled to receive was voted. We have good reason for believing that the Government were mean enough to delay for a long period carrying out the, direction of a large majority of the House by paying over the amount.