The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5438, 31 August 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1878.

It is no wonder that a strong feeling of resentment has grown up in the public mind at the ungenerous slight cast upon Sir Julius "Vogel by tho present Government. That the man who under great difficulties effected the arrangement whereby our credit in the London market has been so much enhanced has been passed over when tho Agents under the Inscription of Stock Act were appointed, is discreditable to the Government. Sir J. Vogel has been most assiduous and most successful in defending the credit and advancing the interests of New Zealand since his appointment as Agent-General; and even strong political opponents have recognised the value of his services. We have reason to believe that some of Sir George Grey’s colleagues are annoyed at the want of—we will not say magnanimity—but of ordinary courtesy on the part of their leader, but yet have allowed him to have his owu way in making these appointments. Ee w public men would have lost the opportunity offered of making a graceful acknowledgment of the services of a political opponent. • But our present Premier has followed the bent of his genius in this as in other matters; and his action is thoroughly characteristic. Ho was never known to put a generous or even a fair construction on the action of any (Opponent, or any possible rival; and he lias been chiefly noted for the feminine spitefulness with which he has pursued them. The excuse offered by tho Colonial Government for the non-appointment of Sir Julius Vogel had better have been left alone. -The appointment of Agent-Gene-ral has nothing to do with that of Agent for the Inscription of Stock ; and in fact none of the other agents hold any office under the New Zealand Government. The Government knew very well that Sir Julius Vogel would have accepted the duties of the office tilled up whether he retained tho office of Agent-General or not. Everyday it becomes more easy for the blindest admirers of the Premier to see how far his professions and promises outstrip his performance. He spent the recess explaining in glowing terms how urgently necessary it was to relievo tho working man from taxation and to throw the burden on property. His Government taxes the poor man’s beer, exempts the rnnholder’s fencing wire and light wines, and leaving all the accumulations of capitalists untouched, throws the whole burden of direct taxation on the struggling farmers. Sir George Grey declared that he would not rest till he had established universal suffrage. He has brought in a Bill which is admitted even by Government supporters to be a mere sham. Again, the Premier insisted on the urgent necessity for triennial Parliaments. He lias left it to a new member to introduce a Bill to effect this change. There is not one promise of important legislation which the Premier has kept. But he keeps his seat and enjoys the opportunity he has so long coveted of attacking the English Government and the Queen’s representative in the colony on every possible occasion. Ho has perhaps found out, or his friends have found out for him, that the country is not sufficiently educated to accept his gospel. At any rate he has found out, as Mr. Bowen said on Thursday night, that the education of his Government is not complete. It would be instructive to the public if each member of the Cabinet honestly stated his opinion of the preaching of the Premier on great constitutional questions. They are as divided as their party is on first principles, and no amount of liberal professions will long conceal tho breach.