The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5741, 23 August 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1879.

* It is satisfactory to note that a number of the political shufflers are being found out. It has at last come to this—that the Grey party are ashamed to own their leader ; but they know—to use their own words—what an artful old dodger he is, and they live in hope that he may be able once more to humbug the electors and to return to the House with the balance of power still in hia hands. Political adventurers like Mr. Bunny, -who live on and by politics, have the impudence to offer themselves for election, and to «Vade answering any questions relating to the very point upon which the party to which they •belong have appealed to the country. The. senior member for "Wairarapa has at all times avoided giving anything at all resembling an independent vote. The tool of any pt.rty to which he may attach himself for the time being, b. 9 has

earned the reputation of being an active lobbyist, a good whip, and an excellent canvasser for votes. His reward for doing hangers’ on work is long in coming, but in the meantime he is not left without a crumb of consolation of some sort. The Railway Commissionership which it is said was offered to him fell through because Mr. Bonny is believed to have placed au extravagant value upon his services. During the past recess he was appointed to act as chairman on the Jackson’s Bay Commission, which is known to have cost more than £BOO, and when the incidental expenses have been added, the chances are that the real cost will be at least double that amount. If the present party remain in power, it is confidently believed that something better than mere temporary employment on a roving commission will have to be promised to Mr. Bunny if his services are to be retained on their side. From Wairarapa we learn that Mr. Bunny “would “ not state whether the Premier’s ad- “ ministration was good or bad, or “ whether he would support Sir George “ Grey as Premier in the new Parlia- “ ment. The only answer he would give “ was that if the majority of the new Par- “ liament was Liberal they would elect a “ leader, and he should follow whoever “was chosen.” This is his political creed. He will swim with the stream ; loaves and fishes are his aim and end, and he has no intention of binding himself to support any party until he knows which side is the strongest, and whether they are likely to make it worth his while to support them. Only a man of consummate effrontery, or what is vulgarly known as brazen impudence, would have ventured to give such a reply to the questions put by electors. The Ministry have forfeited the confidence of Parliament by their maladministration and neglect of the business of the country. They have refused to accept the verdict of the House, and have appealed to the decision of the country. Sir George Grey has publicly announced his intention of resigning office if a majority of anti-Greyites are returned to the new Parliament ; and yet we find a number of members offering themselves for election, who decline to say whether they believe the charge is just or unjust, proven or not proven. A thick and thin Government supporter like Mr. Bunny, who even in his sleep would certainly have walked into the lobby with the Ministerial party if the division bell had failed to wakehim, even he declines to state whether the Premier’s administration commands his confidence or not. The Wairarapa seems to be somewhat unfortunate in the candidates who have offered themselves. Mr. O. R. Carter, who used to be known as one of the ‘‘lucky contractors,” is equally indefinite in his views. Our Masterton reporter sends word that “ Mr. “Carter, though pressed by the meet“ing, would not declare himself either a “Government or Opposition supporter.” No wonder if the outside public talk about political morality being,, of the lowest grade, when such shameless .shiftiness and want of political backbone is openly displayed. We can honor a man -who says boldly, “ I am unwilling to support the continu- “ ance in office of the Grey Ministry, “but I am not prepared to promise “allegiance to Sir William Fox.” We can admire the cleverness of an avowed supporter of the Grey party, who, like Mr. Gisborne, avoids as much as possible all reference to the past history of the present Ministry, and pins his faith on the “great Liberal programme,” regardless of the fact that a question of “ men and not measures ” has brought about the dissolution, and that the general election has been chosen as a means of ascertaining an open and deli-: berate expression of public opinion on the point at issue. But we have no patience with those notorious Greyites who dare not openly avow their leader just now, for fear that they should have to take their places beside him in the cold shades of Opposition. In Wellington to some extent the same doubtfulness has been- manifested ; Mr. Levin makes no secret of his distrust and want of confidence in 1 Sir George Grey, but he told the deputation from the Liberal Association the other day that he should not attempt, to depose Sir G. Grey unless there were a strong Ministry formed to replace him. Now we assert that if this position is honestly and deliberately taken up by Mr. Levin he cannot stop there. He must have some idea of his own what would and . what would not be a strong: Ministry. If so he had better express it. Would a- Ministry containing Mr.; Whitaker, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Montgomery suit him 1 Or would he prefer to serve under Sir Wm. Fox, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Rollkston, and Mr. Sauneees 2 The term strong and weak, .as applied to Ministries, implies definite! opinions of certain individuals.

We do not care much about,Mr. Hutchison’s political opinions, he can take them on and off as easy as an old glove. Ha has no character to lose, and he would be quite prepared to say one thing to-day and another to-morrow if it suited him. He is an adventurer of the most easily recognised type, and although Mayor of the city, we are morally certain that if he is retained in office the citizens will live to regret it. His dishonest dealing with the reclaimed land sections, his very doubtful transactions with the bankrupt Mr. Everest, and his unlawful appointment of a wharf official are all quite new and recent instances of his disregard for the law of the land, and the chances are that they will not be long left without some other illegal acts to keep them company. At his meeting last night Mr. Hutchison showed the “cloven hoof” unmistakeably. When pressed by Mr. Gardner to say whether, if a vote of want of confidence in the personnel of the Government were brought forward, he would vote for or against the continuance in office of the present Ministry, he said, “ That will de- “ pend upon circumstances.” When absolutely cornered he declared “ that no “ gentleman would consent to give any “ such pledge,” and at last confessed that his vote would depend, not upon the justice of the charge, not upon his own honest opinion of the merits of the Government, but —“it would depend entirely “ upon who proposed the vote of want “ of confidence, and the way in which it “ was proposed.” These were Mr. Hutchison's own words ; criticism would

be thrown away upon such contemptible stuff. He qualified the shame-faced adherence to Sir G. Grey which he dared not openly avow, by expressing an opinion that the “ great Pro-consul “ would reform his ways.”

Mr. Greenfield’s chance of election is so small that we hardly think it necessary to enter upon any lengthy discussion of his merits, or of his political convictions, if he has any. He is an honest man, but even a ten years’course of tuition under Sir G. Grey, Mr. Bunny, and Mr. Hutchison would not suffice to convert him into a passable politician.