The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1880. ON THINGS POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 263, 22 May 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1880. ON THINGS POLITICAL.

Thb political “ big guns ’ 'of New Zealand h-.vc «p< ned fire throughout the whole length "f 'he colony at once. In Auckland j Reader Wood and Moss have addressed the : r constituents ;in Wanganui, Mr Bal-lam-e ; in Olirfatchnr h, Sir George Grey , in Akaroa, Mr Montgomery ; in la Mr Hall ; in Waikouaiti, Mr G. McLean ; in Port Chalmers, Mr Macandrcw ; ami in Invercargill, Mr McCaughan ami Sir George Grey. Soon, we will hear a feeble shout from the smal guns, such as Mr Saunders, Mr Wrgli 4 , Mr Turnbull, Mr E. Wakethl'l, and others. As is natural with men who have no minds of their own, and no confidence in their own opinions, they wait to take their cue from (lie greater int llec's. We lately refencd at some length to the reasm able and sensib'e address of the member for Akaion, pointing out how cautiously, but firmly, he denounced the conduct of tin* Auckland deserters.ami the deceptive and inconsistent conduct of the present Premier. We stated it as ou r opinion that Mr Montgomery is the most likt-ly person to lead a successful attack neNt session. Since then we have had the pleasure of listening t< an address by Sir G otge Gi-'-y at Christchurch. We have attended many large meetings in Christchur- h :-nd Dunedin, hut at none of them have we seen e vote of sympathy with the speaker’s views carried with such unanimity as at Sir George’s me* ting of last Tuesday. Win n the multitu le wre asked tc pass the resolution moved by Mr An. drews, embodying a vote of thanks and confidence, and a , pledge to support oir G'orge in his endeavors to secure the rig).ts of the people, the scene was worth photographing. When the hands were he <1 up, they reminded one of an army with fi 'd bayonets Scarcely a hand was down in that vast assembly, and the bursts of applause that greeted the speaker at the close of each denunciation of the scheming selfish.intrigues of the Conservative pirty showed plainty that the great masses in onr cities,at least, no-\ know their friends Sir George Grey very adroitly shifted the blame that lias been fried so much to be laid on his shoulders for the I resent state of collapse in public works back again to the Hall Government, and confirmed our oft-repeated statement that them is no necessity for stopping public works. He also with us condemns the {.resent system of taxation as being most oppressive. We were also astonished to find onr article upon e 'ucation, recommending that the Boards of Education should be done away with, and that Committees should deal with the Minbter < f Education direct was adopted by Sir George Grey as part of Ids programme. Tie persecution that Sir George Grey, like Mr Gladstone, has had to endure has b. <-n very great, but as with Gladstone so do we believe it will be "nith Sir George Grey—his patience will in due time receive its reward. There is no -denying that Sir George Grey lives in the hearts of the people of Christchurch as well as with the people in Auckland —so that we believe if a poll were taken at the present time he would, score two to one of eny member that could be put up against him. It’s a pity that Mr Hal! could not politically measure swords with him in Christchurch.

He would thon see how public opinion stood. Th > small village of Leeston is but a poor field to carry on a combat upon, ye? eyen there we are told that Mi Hail was only elected because no othei* candidate was in the field. The speech delivered in the Town Had, Christchurch, on Tuesday last has done more to set the Liberal party right and advance their interests than all the speeches that have gone before it put together. From that point Liberalism will have made a new start, and no doubt will go on to ultimate victory. The Assembly meets next week With the exception of MrMclean no speech m >de byany of the Conservative part}' lias been worth the time wasted in reading it. Strange it is Mr McLean always boasts that he would not do that which his party desires to be done or carried ou!, but no sooner is die hon. member in bis place in Parliament than he forgets a'l this boasting and goes in b indfolded for everything that the Conservative party bring forward.

The address of Tuesday was one of Sir George’s best productions ; it was very pleasant lo listen to, and is pleasant to read. Not a word too much, not a word wanting. The atti ntion given to it is a proof that the Christchurch appro'

ciate synod speaking, grammar, and '.rood composition Sir George, of course, has Ids weak points, but the fact that lie a crne-st in his eft-Ds to secure g'od government, ami to place taxation an equitable basis, mikes lis hearers forget bis 11 tl 1 f u'ts, The crp that Sir George wishes New Z aland to become a Republic is false. A'l that he wants is to have the Governor like.a President in the States—th-> sal try to ne r a '’ d llira Üb3 determin-d upon by the people. Knowing the evi'a complained o? in the States during a Presidential election, we arc not favorable to that system being introduce ' here although the salary question should he settled by Parliament. Regarding N-w Zealand being bettor governed as a Republic, we will not broach the subj-ct ibis issue, but «e will do so in our n-x-. In the address on Tuesday, many points were cleared up .to the satisfaction of those piesent —notably the scandal iv the leh-gram affair. His statement abou* 'he bargain-making of the present Premier with t'-e Auckland deserters shows who is honorable-minded and honest ; and it was given in a way that told hmivi y against Air Hal and IPs perty. If such bargaining were ca ried on in the old ornntry the parties connected w th it would be everlastingly disgraced. No Government, as we have stated before, date make us- of such unjust and dishonest means Public opi ion is now b' iug rons d. and it is quite evident fiom the tone of the public journals, the talk of (ho clubs and hotels, the discussions in every market place, that the Hall Govern, ment is not in favour wi h the people, and must soon go to the wall. It would be unfair to deny that it lias done some good, and it cannot he denied that alter Mr Stout resigned and Mr Balance left the Treasury, the Grey G«-virnment had not tin- material to carry on successfully . Mr Hall with his drag, Mr Rolhstnn, was able to put on the needful brakeBut, unfortunately, whit he has built up with one hand he has more than pulled down with the other. The colony expected and, indeed, demanded, retrenchment, but instead of bread the Premier has given it a stone. Is it, then, to be wondered at that the people express their disappointment, and cry again for Grey and Liberalism? Little as we thought of Mr Hall as a leader of men, he has shown a want of capacity in dealing with large colonial matters, which no mediocre politician could have excelled We did give him credit for more States-man-like abilities than he has yet at least shown possession of; and we feel con vinced that this is so much the fee-jng of the colony at the present time that it the business was to be done over again he would not got the same chance of trying his hand at love-making with the money bags of New Zealand. He has in a most extraordinary way dramalicised the act of the Irishman in the comedy, who had a swetin-art who was always entreating him for a lock of his hair, but soon after marring' she hetyed herself to one T<■ Premier wooed the electors of New Z -aland to give him a chance of imnr rtalising his name, but no sooner is he allowed to dip his fingers into the colonial purse than by the dis trict railway job he tries to help himself We have heard il said that Mr Hall is one of a few that make politics pay. This may be a compliment to a gambler, but it is not an attribute th it tends to raise the character of the Premier of New Zealand. Mr Hall’s speech at Leeston 'on Thursday must have disappointed his friends. We put aside all prejudice and party feeling to read his, speech, with a sincere desire to do him justice We are sorry to state that there is nothing in his address. Blotting out the name of the speaker, give it to a stranger conversant with the colony and he would conclude that it was by a person attempt! jg to play at politics—such as used to be delivered by Mr Shep" herd of goldfield notoriety, who amused his hearers by his attempts at speechifying. Whether it is (hat the Premier lias had his mind diverted by the Native question, or Ims been devoting his attention to the North Island land rings, so as to ex elude the study of other subjects, we know not. but it is evident that the address in question is the weakest production he has placed before the public. Evidently he has been waiting to hear what Mr Montgomery and Sir George Grey would say before he addressed his constituents ; but this study of the sayings and doings of his chief opponents has so warped his mind that he has allowed himself to be drawn into a discursive criticism of the speech of the latter so as to shut out all those hundred and one subjects that the colony expected him to touch upon. We repeat we are sorry to see the champion of the Conservative cause fall so low.