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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2600, 21 July 1881, Page 2

Wb are not amongst the supporters of the member for Geraldine. In company with the bulk of the settlers in South Canterbury wp hold that he is one of the “ shakiest ” of politicians. But that does not prevent our according him any measure of credit he may deserve. Mr Wakefield last night addressed the House, and he made far and away the best speech yet delivered on Mr Ormond’s no confidence motion. The speech was mixed up with a good deal of personal matter. Still Mr Ormond richly deserved the lashing he received. It was none the less effective through being administered by one who there was good reason to suppose was recently rowing in the same boat with Mr Ormond, but who deserted the craft because he failed to see signs of any favoring breeze which would waft him to the Treasury Benches. When rogues fall out honest men come by their own, is only half a truism. It is -more frequently the

case that one of the rogues is punished for his sins. Leaving the attack of a personal nature on one side, Mr Wakefield’s speech was clear and logical. It contained some hard facts which the Opposition will find it difficult to answer. Mr Reader Wood, who followed the member for Geraldine, also appears to have made an effective speech, but it had not sufficient application to the motion. The member for the Waitemata mainly directed his remarks to general finance. Now, that is not exactly the question at issue. It was perfectly clear from. Mr Ormond’s speech that his motion had reference mainly to the financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer in regard to local government, No system has ever been regarded as a success in that province. Under the Provincial system Auckland was in a chronic state of bankruptcy. There was absolutely no land fund at the disposal of the Provincial Government. No part of the colony benefitted so much by Abolition as Auckland ; hut the benefits being of an indirect nature, they have never been fully realised by the people of that provincial district, who have generally been led by the nose by an inferior class cf politicians. Mr Reader Wood, though unstable as water, is a long way superior to the general run of Auckland members, but his speech last night cannot but tend in the direction of making Southern members cautious about voting for the noconfidence motion. Mr Murray was regarded as one of the Middle party who would follow Mr Ormond. Yesterday Mr Murray intimated his intention of voting with the Government. Both be and Mr Wakefield, whose heart appears to have failed him at the last moment, have given no uncertain sound. .The three members of the Middle party, who up to the present have declared themselves, are Messrs Turnbull, Ormond, and Wood. It may be reasonably assumed that the whole Opposition will vote in the same lobby with Mr Ormond, but it does not follow that they will afterwards recognise him as their leader. Altogether Parliamentary matters are very complicated.