The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.
The Governor's speech must have been hailed by every true lover of his country as a relief and a blessing in these times of doubt and fear. The cronkings of the ambitious, disappointed place-hunters had been so persistently, and so assiduously, promulgated and circulated throughout the length and breadth of the land that men, who in ordinary circumstances are wide awake as to the object in view by these dealers in lies and disseumlation, that they could not well be imposed upon, yet were, nevertheless, at times, unhinged in their minds about such barefaced statements as some of our contemporaries were unprincipled enough to make regarding the heads of departments, and the Government as a whole, that they have been put off their guard in doubt whether Sir G. Grey was really becoming by natural infirmity incapable of managing the affairs of the country. This state of doubt is now at an end. The speech discloses a state of matters most reassuring, and calculated to make every one muster heart of courage to face the future with the full conviction that New Zealand will come out of the furnace as gold tried in the furnace and purified. Our revenue from every source except land has largely increased. We must confess wo did uot expect to hear this. The land revenue, all men were aware, would be much short of last year, but, as stated, the estate remains, and before nvuny years are over the demand for land will be as greot as ever. The adjustment of taxation is what might have been expected. An income tax, although not pleasing to many, is the fairest and most equitable of any, and will lay hold of that class so much talked of —the absentees- The Maori vote is now brought within reasonable bounds, but the doing away of plurality of votes in local elections is a mistake. Property has its rights, and it is not fair for a crowd of small settlers who have little at stake to he able to come to the poll and vote on an equality with those who have many thousands at stake. When a man comes to this country with, a certain amount of capital to invest in landed estate, it is but reasonable that he should have more power to protect the intoiests that he holds in a locality than the man who only comes with a pair of brawny hands to work for a living. We hope this matter will receive consideration, and that the Government will not insist upon it. Triennial Parliaments is a wise measure. It will prevent objectionable members
from holding office when a constituency wishcs to get rid of litem. At ;.resent there are instances where communities, would have made changes long au'o if they could have done it, but by a. little manoeuvring, and a ]iit!e more telling of falsehoods in the way of promises, they were :d>le to gull their constituents, and .so hold ofii.-e and be obnoxious at a time when nvn who are capable of acting justly and for the good of their country are needed. We have proof of the loss sustained by the want of poiver to turn out such members already in the Parliament just opened. Had there been Triennial Parliaments the country would have been able to elect right men to represent them, and thus prevent the display of spite against the present Government which has so signalised its opening. The proposal for the extension of the franchise is also a good measure, although we are opposed to every swggger who paoses np and down the country having a vote, which any honifaco could command for a nobler or two. It is, yet, just and reasonable that every man of sound mind who has really settled down with the determination to make New Zealand his home should have a voice in the election of its law-niters. It is therefore another proof of Sir George Grey's sincere desire to make the working man take his proper place in a country where all are, properly speaking, working men,.although some may be working with their head and hands, while others may be working with their handsj only. Nothing can tend more to make our working men take an interest in politics than the fact of them having the power qo elect a member that will lake a true interest in their welfare. Politics are often better known in the tailors and shoemakers' shops than in the meetings of the more polished, but less industrious, unprincipled, often profligate class who so much try to lord it over them. It will therefore be a measure that Sir George will find most popular of any of his measures brought before the last session of a dying Parliament. The statement that the Natives are our friends confirms what we have often stated in this journal, that there will be no war. Had not the present Government been gentlemen of great experience and men or true principle, the colony would have been plunged into war long ago. The extravagances of a few fanatics has frem time to time been magnified into a great crisis, because it is a paying game to have a war in the North Island. A good Maori war they fatten upon. It would also improve the prospects of the would-be Ministers by harrassing the present Government. Sir George Grey knows the Native mind more than any man, and, with his tact and acknowledged ability, he is the only man in New Zealand who is really fit to deal with the Maori question. His proposal to let them have more control over the disposal of their landed estates is a great blow to the herd of land grubbers who infest the North Island. Nothing could have been brought forward that will do more to increase his well-merited popularity, amongst the Native race. The soundness of the Government measures of last session in regard to public works is now clearly demonstrated, and the statement that public works will bo pushed on is a most reassuring proposal, and comes very opportunely at the present, time, when many were almost despairing of prosperity again returning to the country in time to save them from the financial wreck which they see taking place around them. Money i 3 short for carrying out these works, as everyone knows, and only a few could, be found from Auckland to Invorcargill who say a new loan is'not a necessity. Altogether the Governor's speech is a statesmanlike production, containing much in little room, shadowing forth a complete liberal policy such as has never before been brought before the people of any country. We congratulate the Government on its success, and believe it will achieve a great triumph over its enemies. .
No sooner had Sir Hercules Robinson, the new Governor of this Colony, sat down after delivering his manly speech than our contemporary the ' Tim am Herald' commences to vomit out one of the feeblest but most spiteful leading articles upon it that has ever been seen in print. Hushing to the front with such indecent haste, in order to make the best use of the little influence it has with other opposition journals in the hope of getting them to also raise a cry. Never before has the * Herald,' so notorious for silly twaddle, made such a fool of itself. Never before has its shallow volatile editor made such a ridiculous appearance before the pubilc. Never before lias he made such a discovery of his weak points as he did on Wednesday hist. Few are led .away by the ' Herald's ' articles, but the . well known fact that the member for Geraldine is determined to be a ..minister makes the ■sayings of his mouthpiece read with some curiosity. The article on Wednesday shows how unfit lie-is for any such office, and we can afford to wait with calmness the result of his various attempts to oust the present Government, being well assured in our mind that whatever Ministry he joins it will be but shortlived. Should even the country be so unfortunate as to lose the present able Premier the embryo Ministry will not h'-ive a long reign. Not a man amongst the whole lot of those who opposed the Government's proposition to send home the loan with this mail are capable of carrying on the government of the country successfully in these turbulent times. Not a man amongst them has influence enough to secure to it a working majority. Not a man amongst them seems capable of treating an opponent in a spirit of fairness, consequently they having sown to the wind are sure to'reap the whirlwind. The opposition shown to the proposal to borrow money at the very earliest moment to save the country from disgrace must drive many away from the ranks of the opposition who are not satisfied with the component parts of the present p-irty. Tho member for Geraldine, naturally enough, was singular in his opposition to another loan, when we who were the to point out its necessity nearly twelve months ago, stated that it was the only thing that would save the country, seeing that no one else took the. same view of this subject as he did he very wisely kept his mouth shut about a loan ever since. Of course, in his .usual turn-coat style, if he manages to get carried into the Cabinet upon the shoulders of Sir W. Fox, or that sworn enemy of the Grey Government, Major Atkinson, lie will join most heartily in framing a measure for a new loan. Any-
thing tor a quiet life is a common ex-]»-(!H.-'io]i. Anything if I only got into the Ministry says the member for Geraldine ; therefore wo need scarcely seek to prepare the readers of the organ of this would be Minister for another change in his political creed.
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Temuka Leader, Issue 163, 19 July 1879, Page 2
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1,661The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879. Temuka Leader, Issue 163, 19 July 1879, Page 2
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