PUBLIC OPINION ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5794, 24 October 1879, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The Wanganui Chronicle says “ Whatever may be the opinion of the country with regard to other of the late Ministry’s conduct of public affurs. there is very little discord 'vitb regard to the native question. Mr. Bryce might have spoken out far more strongly than he did with regard to Maori affairs, and the country, if not the House, would have been with him. And yet we do not think he acted unwisely in being tints moderate, and in some parts of his speech almost conciliatory. As far as possible it has ever b p en the aim of statesmen in New Zealand to avoid treating native affairs as an ordinary party question. The only glaring exception to the rule is to be found in the tactics of the late Ministry, who in order to make their position with the constituencies a little stronger commenced a course of action with the native race which ere long bore a veryjunweloome sort of fruit.” (Prom the Wairarapa Standard.) “We are so convinced of this, and also that matters have not yet reached their worst, that we sincerely hope, alike for the sake of Sir George Grey and the Liberal cause, that he will not be induced again to take office, until others have been afforded the opportunity of receiving some of the unpopularity which will be sure to attach to those who have recourse to additional taxation to relieve the country from its financial difficulties, and which always accompanies the unsuccessful however little they have been responsible for their nonsnccess. Instead of trying to oust the Hall Ministry from their seats, the Opposition, had they been wise, would have aided them in perfecting and passing those measures of reform which they have promised to introduce, and which a large majority of both sides the House appear to think essential for the future good government of the colony. We place this opinion upon record with the certain conviction that the time will arrive when its truth and wisdom will be generally admitted. Major Atkinson’s brief financial statement, though we hope that it draws too dark a picture of our present situation, will nevertheless be productive of great good in arresting the attention of the colony, and in compelling the consideration of matters far more important to our welfare than the mere question of what set of men are to occupy the Treasury benches.” (From the Dunedin Morning Herald.) “ In the meantime we merely wish to point out that it is no proper defence of the Grey Government to allege, as Mr. Sheehan alleges, that they were no worse than their predecessors. Mr. Bryce distinctly affirms that they were worse, and his assertion can be only too easily proved; but even granting Mr. Sheehan’s position, it is evident to reply that he and his colleagues set out with the announcement that the native affairs had been grossly mismanaged, and that they were going to put all to rights. Their native policy was their strong point. Of this there can be no doubt. There was no end to their boasting or to the abuse and accusations which they heaped on the Atkinson Ministry. And now when they have failed more signally than any former Government, they have nothing more to say for themselves than they are no worse than the men whom they so liberally denounced.” (From the jLyttelton Times.) “ Government must fail with their ‘ measures,’ as a matter of course. They have failed with their ‘ scandals’ and their ‘ policies.’ Between the two failures they are filling up their time by attempting to form coalitions. Rumor has it that they want to get a Ministry chosen by votes of the two parties alternately. Now, why a coalition 1 Oil and water cannot combine any more than Liberals and Conservatives can combine. What have the Hall Ministry done to entitle them to demand a coalition 1 Having failed to do anything they make their presence on the Ministerial benches a reason for keeping possession of one half. They are fond of talking of constitutional practice, but is this constitutional ? They took care to say that they did not think so when in some quarters a Liberal reconstruction was proposed as the proper outcome of the wording of the Hon. J. Hall’s amendment on the Address in Reply. It is very satisfactory to know that the Liberal party has set itself- firmly against any absurd compromise of this kind. By refusing the offered coalition, they have refused to accept that which is impossible,- inexpedient, and unconstitutional. They are beginning to understand what Parliamentary Government is, and to act upon their understanding.” (From the Christchurch Press.) “ To us it appears that such a statement as that of Major Atkinson ought to have been met in one of two ways only. Either the late Colonial Treasurer or some one on his side, more competent than himself to explain the matter for him, ought immediately to have laid before the House a full and complete array of facts and figures exhibiting on the face of them the errors of which Major Atkinson's statement was guilty ; or if that could not be done all opposition to the present retention of office by the Hall Government ought at once to have been abandoned. There is no middle way out of it. After all, party allegiance has its limits, and it ought not to be possible for any considerable number of the House of Representatives to be found banded together to ensure the immediate return to power of a Ministry whose finance has all but landed the colony in utter ruin. Partisans of the late Ministry will urge, as they urged in regard to Mr. Hall’s very moderate speech on the no-confideuce motion, that it is weak, because it avoids personalities, and is free from all bitterness of feeling. For the same reason it is possible that a few independent persons will feel themselves disappointed. The colony has of late grown so accustomed to that kind of party warfare which assumes the form of violent invective against opponents—a species of argument for the introduction of which the late Premier is principally responsible—that it is almost incredible that any Ministry should hope to carry on the game of politics in any other manner. We can only recommend such malcontents, to whatever party they belong, to ponder over Mr. Bryce's statement at leisure. They will find there facts, which are all the more damaging for being unaccompanied bv any railing accusation, and figures, admittedly true, more convincing than a whole tornado of invective.” (From the Dunedin Star.)

“ So far as we are able to judge from the telegraphic summary the Native Affairs Statement de’ivered last night by the Hon Mr. Bryce was calm and business like—not in any degree conceived in a party spirit, and avoiding, so far as possible, all personal application of maladministration. In taking this course Mr. Bryce acted with sound judgment, and in striking contrast to the tactics of the late Government, and especially of the late Native Minister, who was wont to make his Statements political manifestoes. Mr. Bryce seems indeed steadily to have kept one object in view—namely, the affording to the House aad the country the fullest information as to the existing state of things in the department of which he is the political head. It being granted that such state is eminently vicious, productive of much mischief, and likely to be productive of much more, he further suggests to the consideration of Parliament certain remedial action, which he thinks should be initiated without delay. . . . When

Mr. Macandrew’s motion of want of confidence is under discussion, the time will be opportune for bringing home to members of the late Ministry, who now seek reinstatement under the plea of reconstruction, their special misdeeds with regard to native matters. This Mr. Bryce very properly avoided. He opened out the full budget of mismanagement and extravagance, leaving facts to speak for themselves—the persons responsible are thus sufficiently indicated. The ‘ personal government ’ of the Minister appears to be, and to have been, the fountain and origin of most of the mischief in connection with the unsatisfactory position of the native question generally. This personal government has been carried to an extreme by Mr. Sheehan, acting in conjunction with and under the advice (or rather the orders) of Sir George Grey. Mr. Bryce states in effect, no doubt with exact truth, that the late Native Minister was for ever meddling and muddling with the Maoris ; that the ante-room of his offices and the passages leading thereto were for ever thronged with dusky aborigines of the horse-leech breed, whilst telegrams demanding backsheesh (the amounts varying from a few shillings to thousands of pounds) arrived in sheafs from all quarters daily.” (From the Otago Daily Times.) “ There has, it seems, again been some talk in Wellington of coalition, and it is evident that a considerable number of members of the House look upon this as the proper solution of the present state of almost deadlock. We believe that it was not the fault of the Hon. Mr. Hall that some compromise was not effected between the two parties after the defeat of the Grey Government. The leader of the Opposition, however, speaking in the name of his party, set his face against it, and so far as we can judge with the imperfect information before us, he made a great mistake in doing so. It may even yet not be too late to effect some

arrangement. . . . The purely provisional position which Major Atkinson occupies unsupported by the majority of the House, almost precludes his developing a policy or taking any decisive action whatever, and if the Opposition persist in refusing supplies, the struggle cannot last much longer. We sincerely hope that tonight' sitting of the House will not see the comn, .-acement of a long no-confidence debate. It st ms almost as senseless, in the present position of the colony, for two sets of men to be disputing for the possession of the seats of office, as it would be for two rival captains to dispute the command of a ship when she was already in the breakers and nearing the rocks.” (From the Rangitikei Advocate.) “ The Ministerial statement delivered by the Hon. Mr. Bryce is fully as damaging to the late Ministry, as was Major Atkinson’s financial exposition. Mr. Bryce has shown a praiseworthy desire to deal as gently as possible with the laches of his predecessor, and has, in common parlance, let him down very easily indeed. Mr. Sheehan paid him the well-de-served compliment of saying that ‘he (Mr. Bryce) had gone into the matter in the way he (Mr. Sheehan) had expected he would—fair, square, and above-board.’ Mr. Bryce also adopted the principle which we only wish were more often followed in Parliamentary debates—that it was no part of the doctrine of a new Ministry to traduce their predecessors. The example tet is worthy of extensive imitation.”