CHEEK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5402, 20 July 1878, Page 3

CHEEK.

(From the Government organ, Jnly 19.) Being now within a week of the date on which Parliament will assemble, it may not' be out of place to contrast the present position of political affairs with that which obtained at a similar period last year, There was then in office the poor remnant of a once strong government. It was effete and exhausted. From the time that Sir Julius Vogel had retired from its head, it had been daily growing weaker, and although continuous Ministry of nine years standing, it did not contain one of its original members, nor was it clothed with even a shred of the political principles of the party which origmally supported it. The country was in a state of general, dissatisfaction. The old local government institutions had been swept away, and new ones of a crude description substituted. Such a change could only be rendered tolerable by careful, thoughtful administration on the part of the Government. The whole colouy looked to the Government for guidance, counsel, and support, and looked iu vain. Major Atkinson and his colleagues knew nothing, and would do nothing. The county councils were launched into existence," and left to shift for themselves as best they could. They received no aid or encouragement from the General Government, and they soon became painfully aware that the art of administration was not amongst'Ministerial accomplishments. Ministers never did to-day what they could put off till to-morrow, and the highest triumph of their statesmanship was to “ hang up” every question which could be hung up. In this way, no doubt, many questions were solved by time, without any interference on the part of Ministers, if perchance somewhat unsatisfactorily to the parties interested. The whole internal governmental machinery was out of gear, and the local governing bodies in a state of dissatisfaction and uncertainty. The finances of the colony were in far from a satisfactory condition; the “pawnbroking finance ” of the Government, as exemplified by Mr. George McLean in his negotiations with the banks for temporary loans, having given our credit a somewhat rude shook. .The natives were seriously disaffected. A new Native Lands Bill had been circulated, as embodying the Government policy, and its provisions had been emphatically condemned by Europeans and natives alike, from one end of the colony to the other. Its provisions were so unjust that, as Karaitiana Takamoana afterwards informed the House, they could only have been enforced at the risk of another native outbreak. The King natives were in a state of sullen isolation, and the soft blandishments with which the amateur Native Minister, Hr. Pollen, had sought to cajole them, had only excited their contempt. Officers of the IS'ative Department were openly trafficking in native lands on their own account and on that of their friends, so that the “ eyes ” of the country were being acquired by private persons, while Government was paying enormously for the almost worthless residue. Public works were being carried on, after a fashion, at the will. and convenience of the engineers, who did as they liked, regardless of all Ministerial control. and officialism were rampant everywhere, and the responsible advisers of the Governorhad fallen to,and were content with, the position of'puppeta in the hands of “ Heads of j Departments.” Ministers were conscious of their own weakness and of the general discontent which existed, but they had not nerve enough to take any decided action, and they Bought to strengthen their position by alternate attempts at bullying and seeking to buy- those who had political support to give. This was the position of affairs a week before last session opened. How different is the state of affairs to-day. There is. now in office a strong, united Government, bound together by well understood principles, and with a definite aim and object before it. A Government which has at its head a statesman whose name find services are known throughout the Empire, and whose matured experience gives him a position occupied by no other man in the colony ; and serving -under him are colleagues who are young, vigorous men, well acquainted with the colony, its wants, and requirements, and desirous of proving themselves worthy of the position they occupy, and of the honor of being associated with such a chief in the great work of Liberal .Reform to which he has devoted himself. This Government is strong, not only in being united by principles, but in the consciousness of commanding, to the fullest possible extent, the confidence of the people of the colony.' This has been fully shown by the elections which have taken place * throughout, the .country during the recess. . By careful administration the machinery of local government has been brought into a workable condition, and is running as smothly as its original clumsy con-struction-will permit. Local bodies find the Government ready at all times to listen to them, willing to advise them, and prompt to assist them, as far as justice will allow. There is no’“ hanging-up” of difficult questions until they solve themselves, but everything is done in a thoroughly business-like manner. The Ministers govern the country themselves instead of leaving the task to their Under-Sec-retarieS. No part .of the colony is neglected or treated unjustly, and, as a rule, gentfral contentment -exists. In" native affairs the change is oven more marked. A new Native Band Bill is promised, the leading features of ivhich 'command the approval of both natives and Europeans, The natives feel that, almost ,for the first time, there is in power a Government which • sympathises with them, under- ’ stands their requirements, will deal perfectly fairly and justly with them, and yet will not be bamboozled by them. They have been told plainly that they must respect and obey the law, and that while no unfair advantage will be taken of them, they will not be allowed to take any. They have learned to respect the Government which talks and acts in this decided, straightforward manner. They know that none of its members are tainted with land jobbing, and they see that all land trafficing on the part of Government officers has been sternly repressed. The King natives feel that there is in power a true friend to their race, and. they aro willing to trust him, and to becope as one people with the European colonists. No longer does their King sit behind ■ the Ankati liuo, which none must cross one way or other without" his pass; hut he comes into the European settlements, mixes with, the settlers, dines at their houses, and dances with ladies. He meets the Premier and Native Minister, treats them with splendid hospitality;- and practically accepts the terms they offer in providing for him and his people so as to preserve thorn from want. Rewi, the great fighting chief of the Ngatimaniopotos, following suit, has

met Ministers on the historic Waitara ground, and there, where the trouble began, has, cuded. Never waa the native race in a more contented, peaceful, and hopeful ptite. Turning next to financial -affaire, the prospects are equally cheering. The colony has just floated a considerable loan in a legitimate manner, and on terms which show how well its credit stands. The revenue "is being administered economically, and exhibits a ■steady growth. The expenses of administration are being decreased, while its efficiency is being increased. Ministers themselves exercise a careful and jealous supervision over tho acts of the permanent officers, and so irksome hns this bepom-, in at least one instance, that tho colony has been relieved of the services of a great engineer. Public works are now being carried out more fairly, more efficiently, and more economically than ever before. Ministers will meet Parliament with a- definite policy to present to it, embodying carefully thought-out proposals, the principles of which ■:v large majority, of the House, and of the country at large, fully approve. Liberal reforms in the electoral laws, in the incidence of taxation, and in other important matters are confidently anticipated as the result of the coming session ; and from end to end of the oniony the feeling is one of hopeful confidence in tile Government and its policy,—of full satisfaction at what has been done, and of pleasant anticipation of what is coming. Truly tho contrast is a great one ’twixt then and now.