The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5770, 26 September 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1879.

“ Mixisteks have lost the confidence of “ the representatives of the people, and “ are about to appeal from them to the “ country. A majority of the House of “ Representatives lias declared that “ Ministers have so neglected and m;s- ---“ managed the administrative business of “ the country that they no longer possess “ the confidence of Parliament.” Such was the language used by the Governor on the 29th of July last. It might reasonably have been expected that the speech which was yesterday put into his mouth by his Responsible Advisers, would have made some reference to this appeal, and to the answer accorded to it. His Excellency only says “ I recently “ allowed an appeal to the electors of the “ colony ; and they have availed theiu- “ selves of this opportunity to make “ manifest their wishes with regard to “ measures of great importance, which it “ was proposed should be enacted as part “ of the permanent Constitutional law of “ the colony.” Ministers have in fact appealed to the country, but were afraid to put the question plainly to the electors, because they knew that many of their supporters could only secure their seats by sedulously concealing their real feelings on the issue submitted to the country. The answer which the Government have got to their appeal is far from being satisfactory to them, and consequently it does not appear in the Governor’s Speech. In its stead the sideissues we anticipated are flaunted before the public once more. First comes the famous triad of Electoral Reform, Triennial Parliaments, and Redistribution of seats. Abolition of plurality of voting in local elections so long as Government subsidies are continued, is the next old friend on the list; it is followed by the proposal to sell native land by auction, in the open market, in small blocks ; and, last of all, comes the BUI to Regulate the Immigration of Chinese, which has already almost ceased.

Many of tho proposals brought forward in the speech delivered on the 15th of July are left out. For instance, all reference to the imposition of an income tax is omitted ; and no specific mention is made of the promised reform of the Counties Act, so as to enable those bodies to borrow money more easily. Last, but not least, the much-needed reform of the system of Hospitals and Charitable Aid is pushed into the back ground. A promise to reduce the price of land for small farms or allotments is the only fresh bid for political support. It is true that the Government also promise to do nothing for a while about the Brunnerten and Amberley railway. That is to say, a special committee are to enquire into it, and they are to delay the matter as much as may be, and “ to take advan- “ tage of every possible means of ascer- “ taining the best routes, that tho rela- “ tive merits of tho various lines should “be carefully considered.” We heartily commend this proposal. It will probably take at least three years to carry out these instructions, and by that time the five million loan will be dissipated. In passing, we may remark that this proposal is altogether different from the telegram despatched by Sir G. Grey to Mr. Beeves, barely a month ago, on the 26th August, as follows :—“ Railway to West Coast has ‘ ‘ been decided on, and will be carried “ out by the Government.—G. Gkey.’’ Which was backed up by one from the Minister of Public Works as follows ; “Dunedin, August 26.—Speaking for “ myself, and so far as I know my “ colleagues are of the same opinion, I “ have no intention of setting aside the “ decision of the Legislature last session. “ — J. Macandrew.” Another select committee is to be appointed to consider “ the best means of promoting and en- “ couraging manufactures and local indus- “ tries in this colony.” This has a decided “ smell ” of protection about it, but the report of the committee, if ever it is made, will as likely as not take the form of a manifesto in favor of free trade. An assurance given in the previous Speech in regard to the peaceful action of the native people, is said to have been borne out by results. The paragraph fairly takes one’s breath away ; fortunately some explanation is afforded a little further on by the following “ Two intertribal disturbances, arising “ out of {[disputed claims to land, have “ occurred, in one instance attended with ‘ ‘ loss of life. The necessary measure 3 “ are being taken to vindicate the law.” The latter paragraph is simply false. The European authority and the law as interpreted by the English Judge of the Native Lauds Court has been openly set at defiance by a number of Maoris, who have repeatedly broken the law with impunity during the past nine months. British subjects have been shot down at the Thames in cold blood at a twelve yards range. The police and tho military have been openly defied, and the natives have secured themselves in a strong pah, and have dared the Government (not any other tribe of natives) to arrest the murderers. The tribes on the West Coast, it is said, “ appear to be quietly awaiting the “ action of Parliament, and of the ordi- “ nary Courts of law.” It would be more correct to say that those who have not been arrested for trespassing are quietly enjoying the fruits of their determined ejectment of the surveyors ; and that the arrested men are living in unwonted comfort and agreeable idleness awaiting with the most exemplary patience, their trial by the law, which their chief still openly despises. Te Whiti’s present feeling towards the pakeha is clearly shown by a report of his last speech, published in another column. In quaint metaphorical language he says he sent his men “ not to plough the land but the “ belly of the Government.”

An examination of the Speech will show that their is scarcely anything new in it of importance, except the very unexpected announcement about the West Coast Railway in the South Island. There is not one word about the result of the appeal to the country, and the silence is suggestive of defeat to the Government. There are a few gross misrepresentations about native affairs, which will, however, deceive no one, because all official statements about native matters are known

to be utterly unreliable. There is nothing in the Speech which is at all likely to restore toMinisters the conlidenoeof the representatives of the people, which they lost two months ago,and have been quite unable to regain. Wc heartily join with the Governor in hoping that the people of New Zealand “will always maintain within “ its limits an equitable system of taxation, a just administration of public “ lands, and a sound system of local self- “ government.”