THE EVENING MAIL. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 312, 24 April 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1877.

•• Wonk are thmsrs. »n»t » drop of infc foltin? upon a f.hons'iit. tiuty produce that which lushe* thousands think."

'• Tue report which was current some time i ago. with regard to the probability of Sir | Wjmjam Fitziierrkkt being induced ' to resign the Speakership of the .Hoitse of Representatives, mid accept the leadership of the Opposition party, has again bteri revived. As vet, there does not seem to be any definite information as t<> whether or not Sir William will accede to the request, although it has been stated tliat he is not altogether averse to the proposal. W v sincerely trust that Sir Wilmam Fitzueebeet will take the course proposed. At present, the House of Representatives is in a demoralised state. The head of the- Ministry is incapable of leading a party in anything like a satisfactory manner, and has only been able to keep together a majority through the force of circumstances. A large number of those who voted with the Government last year did so. not because they were satisfied with the manner in which the Ministry conducted the affairs of the Colony, but because they wished to.see the Abolition of Provincialism carried into effect. That they were not at one with the Ministry on many other points was amply proved during the session. Abolition has now been carried out, and there is no common ground of agreement between the Ministry and a large section of those members who voted with it last session. The only thing letjuired to bring about a considerable change in parties is a leader for the Opposition, who is capable of cementing together a party on some,

broader ground than that of mere factious opposition and obstinate obstruction. Sir George Grey has given ample proof of his inability to lead such a party. He is a most estimable man, and has worked hard for what lie considered a good cause ; but he has not the tact of binding together a party upon broad and enlightened principles. He is too excitable, too obstinate, and too distatorial to inspire confidence in members ; and the consequence has been that many who would have been willing to fight in the ranks of an Opposition under a good leader, have been driven into supporting the Ministry. Many there are who would gladly see the present Administration driven from power, but they have abstained from lending their aid to the achievement of such an end simply because they had not confidence in Sir George Grey and other leaders of the Opposition party of last session. That Sir George Grey would offer no opposition to the placing of Sir William Fitziierbert at the head of the Opposition ha 3 been freely stated : indeed, if our information is correct, Sir George would willingly retire from the House altogether were a leader in whom he had confidence brought forward by his party. Sir George was only induced to leave his quiet and private retreat in order to do his best to save a falling cause—a causs which lie was known to have greatly at heart. The battle in defence of that cause has been fought and lost; Sir George has done his best to fulfil the task he undertook, and may well ask to be permitted to seek once more that calm retreat from political strife which his tang service entitles him to, and so be permitted to end his days away from the troubled waters of the political ocean. Tho only difficulty in the way of his so doing is the want of a good and trustworthy leader for his party. There is not one iii the ranks of those who fought against the Government last session c;ipable of filling the post. Beth Mr. Macani>i:ew and Mr. Stout are by far too apt to look at everything through the Otago spectacles. They do not seem capable of bringing themselves to the task of looking upon the Colony as one united whole ; and consequently though both are highly ! talented men, they are unable to take ; such a broad and statesmanlike view of affairs as 13 necessary to the effectual i bunting together of a strong and united | party. With regard to Mr. Reader [ \Vnoi>, experience has shown him to be < t<«o unreliable a politician to lead an organised party ; and he, too, is prone to the same fault as Messrs. Macandkew and Stolt —that of looking upon matters from one particular stand-point. The only otiier member of the Opposition who might be deemed capable of taking the lead is Mr. Rolleston*. Clever though he undoubtedly is, we cannot for one moment deem him the proper man to lead a party in the House of Representatives, for he does not possess the necessary qualification of being able to bind together a party upon approved grounds, and is too apt to endeavour to act independently, instead of working in harmony with othera. Thus I it will be seen-that there is not one i amongst the whole of those who voted against the Ministry last session capable of bringing together and controlling an Opposition worthy of the name. There is undoubtedly all the elements of a strong Opposition in the House of Representatives, were a good leader obtained, and the members brought together upon some common and well-defined ground. In Sir William Fitzherbert that leader would undoubtedly be obtained, could he be induced to accept the position. But whether the disintegrated atoms which at present form the opposing party could be formed into one harmonious whole would depend upon the disposition of members themselves. In order to bring about such a consummation many concessions would have to be made, more particularly in regard to insular separation. If members could only be brought to some definite understanding upon this and a few other subjects, a powerful Opposition might be formed, and the business of the country would, in consequence, be managed in a far more more satisfactory manner than it is at present; for, even if such an Opposition were not sufficiently strong to drive the present apology for a Colonial Ministry from power, it would still be strong enough to keep the Government in check, and put a stop to the reck-

less extravagance and wilful neglect which characterises the present administration of the affairs of the Colony. Unchecked and unheld by any restraining power, the present Ministry has hitherto been able to squander with impunity the funds of the Colony ; but, were a strong party formed for the purpose of bringing about a reform in the financial matters of the Colony, the Ministry would no longer be able to pursue its heedless course of extravagance. That some such reform is necessary has been abundantly proved, and any politician who might set himself earnestly to work to bring about financial reform would be deserving of the support of the Legislature and the thanks of the public generally.