THE POSJION OF QUEENSLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 559, 12 September 1866, Page 3

THE POSJION OF QUEENSLAND.

Some ypk or two ago a paragraph appeared - our columns, in which the fiuancial onditiou of Queensland was depicted i the strongest and gloomiest terras poible. Since then we have been put in of full files of Queensland pairs, from when we learn that the finanebnas been followed by a political crisis. We in JSfew Zealand are now acoustA'd to see and to look for a chmo-' of Ministry each time the Asse:'->ly meets ; but our Queensland neigbors have shown that it is possible tj [ye three Ministries in almost as man weeks. In our extremity of politicaXgitation threats were held out of impiching a Premier by a gentleman whhas since found it compatible to take offi? under the very man he deemed unfit to jld the reins of power. Some among usiave even gone so far as to hint at a d(ition to Her Majesty for the recall of S ; George Grey ; but that w:-.s ]-•■ - .■-.; -, nd^r the pressure of hope deferred and a^ir :rfcions v irealised, and certainly n t on laneial grounds, unless indeed it can be aown that true political as well as tuancial foresight is monopolised in the lands of those who dream dreams of the Maori, and evolve from the depths of their own consciousness schemes which somehow never are, but always to be, successful. But Queensland, following in the footsteps of Victoria, has achieved the dignity of a petition for the recall of its Governor ; and since all parties in the distracted colony agree in saying that he has been guilty of high misdemeanour against the constitutian, it is not improbable that, like Victoria, Queensland may succeed in effecting a change of rulers, affording another miserable example of the excesses which are possible under a purely democratic form of government, when those who ought to be the guides of the people in moderation and loyalty, discard patriotism for party, sacrificing to the latter what ought to be unselfishly used for the public weal. The case of Queensland may be briefly told, and easily comprehended. To betrin with, there is no doubt she has outrui the consta'le, ;nd is nsxt door to bankrupt. "With a practically illimitable territory, and with immense resources only waiting to be developed, Queensland has run too fast in the race, and has attempted to force that which, though it may be fostered, can never be accelerated with safety. Immigrants have been poured m by tens of thousands, railways have been carried through desert and desolate places, and other public works undertaken for which the superabundant energy of a young country may be some excuse, but which, from their disproportionate vastness were sure to bring, sooner or latter, that which has actually come upon Queensland, — a financial, followed by a political crisis, the whole machinery of Government paralysed, if no i completely arrested m its action, the servants of the Government unpaid, and thousands of people who have no means of sustaining such a calamity, suddenly thrown out of employment, and made virtually beggars. The great mistake which Queensland seems to have committed is one which young colonies are only too ready to make. Over-immigration is the rock on which Queensland has been stranded, and it is well that her fate may be widely known in order that the lesson which it teaches may be clearly understood. The history of the events which have led up to the petition for the recall of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, are succinctly as follow : The Colonial Treasurer, as soon as the news of the financial panic in England reached t^e colony, and when it became known that the Agra and Masterman's Bank had stopped payment, a branch of which in Queensland was the source whence the Government derived funds to cover its engagements, proposed to meet the emergency by introducing a bill into the Assembly to authorise the issue of legal tender notes by the government. The Governor was made acquainted with this intention, and at once declared that he could "in no event " give his assent to such a measure, believing that the Constitution Act and Eoyal Instructions expressly forbade him doing so. He wrote a letter to the Premier, Mr Macalister, embodying his views. Meantime, and while these events were passing, a select committee of the Assembly was siting, in order to consider, the financial position of the colony, and to devise, if possible, some way out of the difficulties in which it had so suddenly found itself involved. It appe.irs that his Excellency the Governor requested the Treasurer to lay the letter alluded to above before this committee, and also desired that it might be read in the Assembly. "Without the sanction of the Premier, his Excellency's letter, as it appears, was read before the committee, and Mr Macalister at once waited on the former, and explained to him that it was, as he thought, contrary to constitutional principles for the Governor to hold any communication whatever with either branches of the Legislature, or with any portion of them, except through and by [ liis responsible advisers, and with their ; fail consent and approval. Mr Macalister