The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5711, 19 July 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.

The Address in Reply has brought matters to a crisis. After Sir William Fox’s exhaustive and severe criticism of the action of the Government, it would be difficult to believe that any sane person could be any longer deluded by the great promises and fallacious hopes held out by the party. The financial disorder which was admitted when the loan was suddenly and hastily demanded, the complete muddling of native affairs, the utter disregard for constitutional law and precedent has been amply demonstrated. If any impartial inquirer will but refer to the masterly summary of the laches of the Government enumerated by Sir William Fox in his speech last night, of which we give but a very imperfect resume, he cannot but admit that the charges which we have constantly preferred against them are there set forth in a manner which none can dispute. It is true that Sir G. Grey is at all times ready to deny any charges which can be made. He is an accomplished actor, with an air of the greatest sincerity and in a tone of injured innocence he will deny a charge which but a moment before has been proved beyond a shadow of doubt. When called upon to justify any unconstitutional conduct such as he was charged with last night, he will state as he did when referring to the Waste Lands Bill in 1877, which he deliberately held back in order that it might not receive the Governor’s assent, “ that he did so for the sake of the “ people.” Or he will boldly aver in the' face of documentary evidence to the contrary that the House voted money for the Grahamstownand Te Arohaßailway, when “ Hansard ” and the Railways Construction Bill prove that no such grant*was ever passed, and that no such railway was ever contemplated by the House. The disgraceful particulars relating to the appointment to the Speakership of the Legislative Council, are in themselves enough to condemn any politician in the eyes of honest men. A strictly private correspondence ought not to be held about any public appointment. Where there is nothing to conceal, the full light of publicity may surely be allowed to shine, and, as Sir William Fox assured the House last night, that he had himself read a letter, which implied a secret understanding that political services should be rendered by the occupant of an office similar to that occupied by Mr. O’Roekb, the public may be allowed to judge for themselves how far the positive evidence adduced by him can be shaken by the Premier’s indignant denial and lame excuses. Numerous instances were quoted of public servants who had obtained preferment, in some instances at the expense of other public servants, simply as a reward for political services. The unfortunate disagreements in the Cabinet must be acknowledged to be a convincing proof of a want of unity and cohesion between the autocratic Premier and his colleagues. He says that no Minister ever asked him to call a meeting of the Cabinet and was refused. But it is well known that, as in the case of the County of Kent telegram, whenever the occasion arose, the Premier would act first, and consult his colleagues afterwards. The utter mismanagement of native affairs is so notorious and self-evident that it is almost superfluous to refer to it. That the natives were passively hostile, and have been stirred up to active rebellion is unfortunately but too glaringly self-evident to all parties. Excuses about promises made by former Governments will not alter the facts. The great “Maori Doctor” wanted to establish a reputation for quieting a swann of wasps; he offered them sugar, and shoved his hand into the centre of the nest in doing so. They declined to eat the sugar while honey-bearing flowers were plentiful, and attacked the intruder, and became at once fearful of and hostile to every person who approached them. Tawhiao asserted his rights in a way which will never be forgotten by the white settlers, for colonists are loth to be forced to listen to contemptuous and galling insults, and

but for the unwise intrusion at Te Kopua no such insults would ever have been recorded. Incapacity and maladministration are but too glaringly apparent for any one to question the fact of their existence. Sir G. Gkey may demand a dissolution and an appeal to the country, but we have yet to learn that any such appeal can take effect until the pressing necessities of the country have been attended to. It is not a policy that is wanted, but a reliable set of men to carry on the Government; in a few days we believe such a body of men will be found upon the Ministerial benches. The leader of the Opposition has delivered a speech which will ring in the ears of the nation for years to come, and has conclusively shown how it has come about that one of the strongest Ministries ever formed has so soon lost all prestige and public confidence by attempting to please the people rather than to do their duty.