The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5656, 16 May 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1879.

It must be regarded as a fortunate circumstance for the colony that, however much the Ministry may dread the meeting of Parliament, the annual and constitutional day of reckoning cannot altogether be dispensed with. We may be further thankful that although there has been no response to the loudly expressed wish of the country for an unusually early opening of the Assembly, tho exigencies of the case make it impossible that the interesting ceremony can be put off to a very late dale. It would be folly to assert that no Ministerial mischief can be contrived and executed in the meanwhile, but there is at least some reasonable ground for hoping that Sir Geoege Gkey has hardly sufficient time remaining at his disposal to stir up and irritate the native mind to such a pitch as to render hostilities unavoidable. It is not to be supposed that any member of tho Ministry is so base or foolish as to wish that the colony may be plunged into another Maori war. Wo are nob aware that any one of them, f-oia Sir George Geey down to Mr. Ballance, has shown any symptoms; of madness. They are all sane enough in the ordinary acceptation of the term, but they have displayed during their tenure of office, and especially during the last six months, a lamentable want of judgment and an astounding ignorance of much which has been done by other Ministries in dealing with the native race. They have moved when they should have remained still; they ha ve rested when vigorous action would alone ha veheen creditable. It is have stirred up and irritated a large proportion of the native race, and brought on, either by direct communication or through their authorised agents, the state of affairs which New Zealand has at tho present moment such just cause to regret. In his speech to his constituents tho other night at Wanganui Mr. Fox, certainly with no desire of saying what might serve to hinder a satisfactory issue from present embarrassments, was compelled to admit the existence of the “dark “cloud” over native affairs. To Sir George Grey’s attempts to make political capital out of the Maori race he mainly attributed the uneasy feeling prevailing throughout the colony. A good deal of what he said on this subject is not new to the public, but has, indeed, been repeated times without number on the platform and in tho newspapers. But Mr. Fox brought out the facts'with commendable clearness, and his arguments and inferences were truthful and just beyond dispute. It is to be regretted that the local Press has not furnished a full report of the speech. But Mr. Fox might have gone even further than he did. We say that, given six months more of Sir George Grey’s Premiership and our colonists may expect not only native disturbances of some considerable magnitude, but a difficulty in supplying the public purse such as never before has been experienced in this part of the world. In common, therefore, with the great mass of our fellow citizens we look forward to the meeting of Parliament as a day of deliverance from tho worst Ministry which has ever been entrusted with the reins of government in these islands. There will be more than the usual amount of expectancy with regard to the speech which the Premier will place in his Excellency’s hands ; but it may be confidently predicted that Sir George Grey’s special gift of words will not desert him on the trying occasion. The speech will be plausible and (so far as may be considered necessary) untruthful. Notwithstanding all that has happened, Parliament - will be congratulated on the grand success of the native policy since the prorogation. But even the Premier will scarcely be prepared to ask Sir Hercules Robinson to read such a paragraph as formed part of the viceregal speech on the 26th ‘of last July. Sir Hercules might object to stating, even by the advice of his Minister, that “ the “ question of the survey and settlement “of the West Coast of this island has “ been firmly taken in hand, and the im- “ mediate survey of the Waimate Plains “ ordered. "Whilst the utmost considers,- “ tion for the former native owners will “ be shown in dealing with these lands, a “ large extent of valuable country will be “ available for sale and settlement. Whatever tho vice-regal speech may contain, and however happy Sir Geoege may be in his choice of words, the country will not be satisfied until this Ministry of broken pledges and large blunders has made way for politicians of an entirely diferent stamp. Tho Maori policy has utterly, and ignominiously failed, and the ultraradical dodge is played out, though of course it is not to be expected that those who have used it so unscrupulously should be willing without a struggle to acknowledge that the spell has lost , its power. On the whole, it maybe taken for granted

that the Ministry will bo very loth to resign. Some from mere love of place, and some, let us hope, from a higher motive, will be ready to make a struggle to remain, where they are. They have given ample proof that they care not how undignified such a struggle may be, provided only it be successful. Judging by the past, we believe that if expediency pointed to such a course, each would be prepared to take care of himself regardless of his fellows, glad enough to cling to the sweets of office at any price and under any circumstances. It would be well to call to mind the tactics of last session with a view of profiting by the lesson during the next. Can it be doubted that if the Opposition had bestirred themselves in earnest, if they had had some concerted order of battle, if a few petty jealousies had been smothered, and a few old friendships renewed, the Grey Ministry would have gone down with a crash ? They were in jeopardy when Parliament assembled; their case became worse as time wore on ; they were the laughing stock of the country when the prorogation cut short the unfruitful session. And yet they retained their places, and power to accomplish the evil which is even now bearing heavily on the colony. It is full time there should be some attempt at organisation in the ranks of the Opposition. There are ample materials out of which to form a moderate Liberal party which would command the respect of the country, secure a working majority in the House, and speedily put an end to the miserable and expensive farce of Government to which Sir George Grey has so long treated New Zealand.