THE MINISTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5612, 25 March 1879, Page 2

THE MINISTRY.

T 0 THE EDITOR OF THE HEW ZEALAND TIMES. glß,—Few people' will deny the fact thafc this colony is passing through a great political and: financial crisis. As an old colonist will you' permit me to express,- through your columns, my belief that the present Ministry ia in a great measure to blame for the present aspect - of affairs, and' that until they are removed from office the depression will continue. Shortly after the Grey Government assumed the reins of power the Premier, accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Sheehan and the Government whip, Mr 1 J. C. Brown, traversed the colony, and were received with , open arms by the people. Sir G. Grey was then looked on as a statesman who, in the early dsiys.of the colony, had relieved it .from, many, dangerous difficulties,and great reliance was therefore placed on lus promises. The working classes were led, to believe that, in fsir George Grey they had a champion who would, despite all other influences, advance the progress of the country, break down all land and other menopohes, and raise the country to a greater degree of prosperity. - But what has been our experience of his administration? "We have; a repetition of the days when Sir G. Grey was Governor of the colony. Promises were held out which were never fulfilled, but on the faith of which people built up hopes and prospects

which have now been so rudely shaken, and the outcome of all is the present crisis. Old and experienced colonists, those aware of the peculiar characteristics of the Premier, could not be --, and foretold what has come about,, Sinpe taking office the Premier has not only been at variance with his own colleagues but also with the Governor of the colony. He has insulted the representative ,of her Majesty whenever an opportunity has been afforded kim, and thereby lowered the country in the eyes of all thinking men in this, the neighboring colonies, and the Home country ; and - now we have before ns the results/ It is true the present ministry is a rope of sand, a curious mixture of autocracy and democracy. Policy, .thero 'fore, to raise the country from its present state of depression they have none. Their only policy ii to maintain themselves in office, and subsist on the public purse. Forjnstnnce, 'what Has Become of their boasted mana-mment of native affairs, and the great influence that Sir George Grey and Hr. Sheehan were expected to exercise over the Maori chiefs? The events which have passed during the past few weeks should convince every person who has watched the movements .of the Native Minister that whatever influence Mr. Sheehan may have had is waning. Only the other day in Hawke's Bay the leading chiefs declined to interview him, remembering in their hearts his unredeemed promises to regain for them the lands which they sold to Europeans, and on which airy he raised himself to office. Then, sir, we have the Piirihaka meeting, where Te Whiti snubbed the Native Minister, and made the hon. gentleman and his following look exceedingly small. There is however yet the greater farce to be played, viz,, the meeting between Tawbiao and Sir Grey, It is to be hoped both Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan will take warning, and not permit themselves ’to be again made the laughingstock of the colony by such wary native diplomatists as Bewi and Mauuhiri, and thus degrade not only themselves but the Government of the colony. "While the Government of the colony remains in the hands of men who are not statesmen but political intriguers, we cannot expect but that through misgovernment it will continue to fall back, and that those who have entrusted them with power must, and will, continue to suffer, both financially and politically, until the present Ministers are thrust from office.—l am, &c., Young New Zealand.