OUR “REAL GOVERNOR.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5520, 5 December 1878, Page 3

OUR “REAL GOVERNOR.”

(From the Tiniaru Herald.) Sir George Grey’s Ministry and party were eo entirely disagreed last session upon all leading public questions that it is impossible to understand at all clearly what their policy was, or even wh-ther they had any policy at all, beyond the desire of retaining their places and their power. Certainly that was the only policy which they succeeded in carrying ; for though the Land Tax Act was passed against the strongly expressed opinions of all the most influential Government supporters, the rest of the financial scheme, of which it was declared to be an integral part, was rejected ; even the most servile of the Ministerial party remembering that they had constituencies, and feeling that they must draw the lino somewhere. There is little doubt, indeed, that, as regards the finance, as well as less important subjects. Ministers intrigued against one another. Mr. Stout and Mr. Ballance were defeated on their Beer and Companies Tax Bills, not so much by the Opposition as by Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan. The whips were contented to bear the blame and the shame of having betrayed the Ministry; but it is not to be believed but that they acted under instructions. The Government can, therefore, be said _ to have neither carried nor lost any policy, eo far as they have gone. Their measures were nothing moro than feeble expedients to divide parties and thus retain a majority; and when Parliament rose, no indications had been given of anything more tangible or coherent being contemplated for the future. It is true that on that memorable night when the Premier and Major Atkinson made the Honse a spectacle for gods and men by their display of personal bitterness on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, the former launched ont into a wild statement of what he intended to do next year. No one knows better than Sir George Grey how to make a fine sounding speech, full of strong language and pregnant in phrases, which yet, when afterwards referred to, may be shown to mean anything or nothing, according to the requirements of the occasion. The speech in question was precisely of that character. It was made up of angry reproaches against those who had obstructed the carrying of some policy, which nobody had ever heard of before, except at public meetings or in casual orations iu the House iu previous sessions ; and of vague, involved, general expressions concerning the line which the “liberal party” were determined to taka in the future. If the speech really was intended to convey any clear impression at all, however, It was only by way of a feeler. Tho chances are ten to one that it was nothing more than a piece of inflated and excited galimatias, and that Sir George Grey himself knew nothing what bo was going to say when he stood up, nor what he had said when he sat down. If, though, ho told tho House, unconsciously or not, anything of his mind in that speech, it amounted to this. He intends to stake everything on establishing manhood suffrage, pure and simple, and on restoring provincial institutions. We have no doubt in the world that if ho were asked ptraightly whether that Is the case, he would complain bitterly of being misrepresented, and, without actually denying that such was his meaning, would show clearly enough that his speech would bear a totally different interpretation. That, however, was tho real drift of his speech, if, as we have said, it had any drift at all. Since then Mr. Moas, member for Parnoll, who is perhaps tho most obsequious and unemproroiaing of Sir George Grey’s political parasites, addressing bis constituents, openly stated that the restoration of the provinces was tho question of tho future which woutdhavo to be fought out. Itis possible of course, that Mr. Moas may havo blurted this out on his own responsibility, H e is not, however, known to bold any views of bis own in particular, being of a singularly accommodating disposition; but he Is prone to the duty of a catspaw, and it is in that light alone that we are inclined to regard his utterances. The Premier is far too crafty to commit himself to any clearly defined set of opinions; least of all to a set of opinions which would at once turn against him half his own party in tho Honse, and a largo proportion of even those parts of the country where his influence is supposed to be greatest. He Is a perfect adept in the art cl handling catspaws, mainly for the

reason that he is totally void of consideration for the consequences to his instruments ; and it is so thoroughly iu his style to feel the pulse of tho public, through such men as Mr. Moss, that wo may take it for granted that he did so in this case. We confidently expect that the process will bo repeated In various directions, and wo shall observe with some interest tho disclosures which are sure to he made by those who form what we may call the inner circle of the Grey party. Sir George’s game, we are convinced, is to create as much agitation, alarm, and uncertainty as possible, whilst appearing himself to be reposing in dignified retirement after the labors of the session, or to be standing aloof from vexed questions daring tho recess out of sheer moderation and magnanimity. - The latest indication of this policy is the rumor, which we have reason to know is directly- inspired by tho Premier’s entourage , that the great event of next year is to be a hand-to-hand struggle between the two branches of the Legislature. Sir George Grey hates'the Legislative Council with doting affection. He has for years never lost a chance of maligning them. They arc pensioners for life, the representatives of vast estates, tho. enemies of tho rights and privileges of British subjects, and a score of other things equally detestable. They are, in fact, iu the first place, mainly gentlemen, a thing which Sir George Grey loathes, and in the second an absolute bar to the achievement of any schemes of autocratic power which he might, but f»r them, be enabled to carry nut by securing the mastery of the popular Chamber. He tried his utmost to bring about a rupture with them last year, but was completely foiled by their good sense, fair dealing, and conciliatory spirit. There was never a better feeling between the two Houses than prevailed from beginning to end of the last session; and tho Ministry had less to complain of than anybody else in connection - with the treatment of their measures by the Legislative Council. The Constitution, in fact, works all too smoothly to suit the ambitious projects of those who arc not content to rest their claims to power on tho merits of their policy. But the Constitution is universally recognised, even by those who dislike its wholesome restraint the most, as the safeguard of the people at large against the encroachments of a section of the people ; and that is tho very reason why Sir Georg-* Grey would willingly see it thrown out of gear. He has spent too much of his life in the enjoyment of practically irresponsible power, ever to submit with any patience to constitutional control. Paternal government, with himself, of course, in the role of heavy father, is his only idea of public administration; and the great obstacle to the establishment of anything of the kind in this country is the independence of the Legislative Council. It remains to be seen whether the Premier will have the temerity to assail that independence. He has enough courage to attempt anything, and certainly will not he restrained by any considerations of public safety. The probability of complete and ignominious failure, however, may well bid him pause. He has no part of the country, nor any but an insignificant section of the House at his back, iu any endeavor to subvert the Constitution ; and if that is his aim, we may confidently predict his speed v downfall.