South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2376, 28 October 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1880.

Within the past few days a few of the chosen of the people have taken advantage of the recess to address their constituents. Mr Bowen has made a speech which has met with very general approval, to his Kaiapoi constituents, Mr Alfred Saunders has received several severe raps over the knuckles from organs that ought to have been more friendly, for his address to the electors of Cheviot, and now in the extreme North wo have Mr Moss reciting his views on the political situation, to his supporters at Parnell, and receiving the inevitable vote of confidence and thanks. What must astonish, if not confuse the reflectively disposed colonist, is the singular diversity which the addresses present. Not only are the views of the speakers charmingly antagonistic in reference to questions o£ vital importance, but an extraordinary variety of patchwork is displayed in the material selected. It seems as if the political situation was a kaleidoscope containing essentially the same colored objects, but assuming distinct designs in the hands of the various members. Mr Bowen, for instance labors industriously to shew the extreme importance which is to be attached to the personnel of the legislature, urging, with a singular disregard of well traced antecedents that what he is pleased to call “ political adventurers ” should never be trusted. And it is worthy of remark as indicating the destructive propensities of inhabitants of glass houses that the fearfully tedious member for Bruce has the same habit of constantly warning his constituents against the evil snares and wicked devices of claptrap politicians. Mr Saunders, on the other hand, finds it impossible to open Ids mind without bunging all the reproaches in the calumniator’s vocabulary on the devoted head of that drowned rat —the late Grey Ministry, while Mr Moss, disdaining the old dried bones, takes up what he doubtless esteems a popular cudgel and lashes the Ministry of the day. It is to be regretted that there should

be so little unanimity and so much versatility on the part of politicians. The exhibition of the political situation through a kaleidoscope presenting ever - varying images can only lead to notification and confusion. The electors naturally look to their representatives for a faithful exposition of the state of affairs, but if this kind of thing continues, how are they to be guided ? Mr Bowen on political adventurers will not help the colony out of its financial troubles, neither will the member for Cheviot’s criticism of Ministers past, present, and to come. The tendency of the class of political orators which we find, so far, mounting the stump, is to sink questions of State policy in idle personalities. The reason why Mr Saunders deserted the Grey party, and his individual opinion of the occupants of office are matters that are certainly of more concern to himself than to anybody else. As a matter of fact we know' that this venerable turncoat was for a considerable time one of the most slavish of Sir George Grey’s followers, and that on the last visit of Sir George to Ashburton,He acted as his equerry-in-waiting, and belarded him to the electors there with fulsome praise. That he “ ratted ” is an incontrovertible tact, and why he “ ratted ”is a matter of small concern, seeing that when the disposition to “ rat ” seizes a vacillating member, he requires to exercise no great ingenuity, in order to discover reasons for doing so. As regards Mr Moss his address displays a redundancy of that acerbity which militates against successful statemanship. IE Mr Saunders has dealt the present Ministrj' a treacherous blow by his faint praise, Mr Moss has certainly not weakened them by his ill-advised reference to the necessity for a renewal of the AucklandOtago alliance. Constituencies generally are well aware that such an alliance has existed in the past,and that this compact has had a tendency to prejudice the claims of intermediate districts. The only effect that Mr Moss’ address is likely to have will be to bind the representatives of central constituencies more closely than ever. Mr Moss’ views on the subject of local Government arc in direct contrast to bis parish-vestry tactics in endeavoring to bring about another Aucklancl-Otago combination ; and in seeking to re-model the administration on an equitable basis, we have no doubt bis efforts will, when the proper time comes, find plenty of support from the constituencies in Canterbury which have lately been sutfering from centralism. But in trying to sow disunion and jealousy between the representatives of remote constituencies he is simply ministering to the confusion that prevails in the political arena, and retarding the object which be professes to have so much at heart.