The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5693, 28 June 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1879.

Me. Oemond ia probably the keenest and one of the cleverest speakers in the House. A pronounced politician, with strong party feeling, he is able upon occasion to depict the political vices of his opponents in the blackest hues,; his speeches are few, but they are always listened to by men of moderate views with feelings of admiration for their point and finish. The scathing invective, biting sarcasm, and merciless tone of criticism which are at Mr. Oemonb’s command enable him to claim the reputation of being the best man in the House to bring forward, when a warm attack has been arranged and a bold leader is wanted. Judged by the telegraphic report which we have received, his last speech may be considered good-humored and tame; but the original could hardly have been so. . A little touch here and there displays the finished style of a veteran politician ; but it is almost impossible for an abstract to do justice to the style and force of the original in this case. Looking over Mr. Ormond's speech, the first thing which j strikes us is the number of important reforms which he advocates. He says : —“ The Government had not an- ‘ ‘ nounced what they intended to do with “ reference to the electoral question this ‘ ‘ year, but he might say that it was his “intention to bring in a Bill conferring “ the franchise for a residential qualifica- “ tion, and another Bill, if necessary, for “ a small increase in the direct represen- “ tation of the natives, who would not be “ permitted to vote for European candi- “ dates unless they paid rates.” In addition to this he favors a redistribution of seats, though not according to numbers only. By later advices we learn that he also has declared himself plainly in favor of an income and property tax. Upon this last point yve believe that he will be able to secure the support of at least three-fourths of the House. In the debate on the land tax it was made evident that this was the form of taxation which was generally desired, and which, in our opinion, the colony will insist upon having before very long. It ia generally supposed that the’party to which Mr. Ormond belongs is in favor of large subsidies to local bodies, but, judging by the tone of most of the postsessional utterances, there are very few members in the House who look forward to the continuance of the present system. Mr. Okmond certainly does not and upon this point was perfectly explicit. He said : —“ The deficiency in “ the revenue, which Mr. Oemond esti- “ mated at £400,000, was next touched “upon. Ha thought the best way-to “ meet the deficiency was to abolish sub- “ sidies to local bodies, which would save. “ a quarter of a million. The deficiency “ to the local- bodies should be made up “ by increased rating powers, by which “ they could rate land so that it should “ contribute its fair share towards works “ by which it benefitted.” It has been frequently urge.d that a large section of the House 'of Representatives desires to exempt property from its fair share of the public burdens. It would be difficult to name any political speech which has been made during the recess which would bear out this assertion. It is true that the land tax in its present form is condemned on ail sides. There is a certain class which is anxious that large landed proprietors should be victimised for the sake of the rest of the community. It suits the purposes of these would-be communists to pretend that all criticisms of the land tax are urged with a view to

exempting landed property from all taxation. Fortunately almost every member of the House has distinctly disclaimed any such idea, and it is only by attributing wilful falsehood to them that any such accusation can be advanced.

It is noteworthy that both Mr. Ormond and Mr. Hobbs expressly undertook to defend Major Jackson and Major Maze from the imputations which have been made against them. Of Major Jackson Mr. Ormond was able to speak from personal experience, and of Major Maze he gives the testimony of no less an authority than the late Sir Donald McLean, in the following words:—“He (Mr. “Ormond) did not know Major Male “ personally, but Sir Donald McLean “had often spoken of him, saying that “ he could always trust in his informa- “ tion, and that he relied greatly upon “ him for his firmness and knowledge of “ native character, while his thorough “ trustworthiness made his services most “ valuable. Ho did not believe that they “ had been guilty of the conduct imputed “to them.” It is somewhat strange that Mr. Hobbs, in defending the conduct of these gentlemen, should have mentioned that “Rewi said he was like a bush “ pig until Majors Maie and Jack- “ son had taken him and had led “ him to the Governor.” Of course our present Native Minister will contra'dict Ebwi’s own assertion upon this point, and claim the credit of reclaiming the bush pig.

Referring ! to native matters, Mr. Ormond showed an intimate acquaintance with his subject, but it was almost impossible for him to find much that was new to say. He corroborated the story which we have upon a former occasion related about the attempt made tosqueeze an invitation to the Kopua meeting out of Tawhiao. Mr. Ormond said that “ Major Ts Wheoeo was for a consider- “ able time endeavoring to get an invita- “ tion, and urging Tawhiao. to give it, “ because if it were not given the Euro- “ peans would be angry with Grey for “ having deceived them, and his Go- “ vernment might be overthrown. “ Tawhiao replied that it would be “ rather a good thing if it was, and “ again refused to give an invitation,” A touch of Mr. Ormond’s sarcastic style is contained in the following scrap about the Hikurangi meeting. The official reports were chiefly made up from the newspapers. “ Mr. Ormond added ex- “ tracts about Tawhiao playing the con- “ certina, accompanied by a tin-kettle, “Sir George Grey distributing lollies “ to the children, which caused roars of “ laughter.” He paid a graceful tribute to the settlers at Taranaki for the moderation and firmness which they had displayed during the present crisis in native affairs, and while deprecating war, he plainly advocated a firm and manly attitude, such as that taken up by the settlers. We believe that the whole of the colony is under a debt of gratitude to the Haw era settlers for the spirit of self-reliance they have shown, for the manner in which they have met a grave and serious difficulty, and for the way in which they have shown their determination not to abandon their homes without a struggle to defend them. We are heartily glad to observe that Mr. Ormond has publicly recognised their meritorious conduct, and we have no doubt that others will do the same. Although political speeches have been so numerous of late, as almost to have satiated the. public appetite, Mr. Ormond’s speech at Waipawa will amply repay perusal.