The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAYS MAY 2, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3850, 2 May 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAYS MAY 2, 1881.

AfcTHorGH Sir George Grey, in his address in the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, djd not allude tp the preb-s able'litie of ipolicy to follbwedtyrhia party during the coming session of Parliament, he stated his belief that a dissolution would take place at an early date. It was, however, looked forward to by the Press, and thought! probable by men of both parties, that the aged statesman would have given some intimation of his intentions, and paid his constituents, the compliment of being the first to be made aware of the opposition tactics of the future. We cannot say that our member did wrong in taking the_ course he did, yet, on the other hand, we would have liked to have heard something in the direction referred to. Such opportunities have been taken advantage of by statesmen to. make known their views and intentions, but' the. rule is not by any means a universal one, although the utter~ances of politicians occupying- such an exalted position in any Legislature as that which Sir George Grey, does in New Zealand are always regarded with attention. It is evident that Sir George Grey appeared on this occasion purely in the capacity of the representative, not in that of the statesman, and therefore confined his remarks to- subjects of interest LjJjJh I»■■■■■■■. Jj^''l <"'"}'" iili Jl^^ proceed" .tpj|c^ipej3fe; upon the speech. His reference in the first part of his jiddress to the report of certain statements made by the Colonial Treasurer,, Major Atkinson, after an address to his constituents at Patea, certainly showed that gentleman's character -in anything but a , favourable .Jigla l fc. In fact, the admission by-a meigDiber of any Government that, in his capacity.as a representative jq£ a di^slct, he h&d obtained frS^rP&rliament, or* by* Mis infldeniie' as a Minisber of the Crown, everything that his district asked for, and more than in fairness it was entitled to, is a most damaging one, and shows favouritism on the face of it. As Sir George Grey pnt it, if the Government had given one . district more than it was entitled to, manifestly some other district or districts had been defrauded or' negleGted. However much credit we may give Major Atkin-, son for his candour, we cannot compliment him upon his morality. Evidently the advice contained in the line&—"Be just and fear not; let all the ends thou aitaesfc afc be thy country's, thy God's, and truth's,": is not followed by the Colonial Treasureiv It is a very common practice to accuse Governments of favouritism to certain districts, and to men of their party, but it is very seldom that a member of any Executive is fqund admitting the soft impeachment. From another admission made by Major Atkinson on the occasion referred to, ft will appear that his usual cautiousness had forsaken him, namely,, that he had advised a certain gentlemen to represent ixt Sir George Grey,", the then Premier of the colony, with a view to obtajn a grant p£ #10,000, tha£, he >va* T a supjpprter of ■jMh Governmem;^a?fd incendea'to oppose liipi, Major Atkinson, for the seat for Egmont afc the next -election. :The fact that. the" grant was obtained, and the gentleman referred to did contest the seat, led Major Atkinson to jump to* the foolish conclusion that his advice* had resulted as he had anticipated^' Imagine that his assumption wjw.correct, it also led the gallant Major to publish his own infamy, in orcler by doing so to show by what iaemenary motives his political opponents had" been actuated in their discharge of 1 ifle responsible trusts placed iri their hands. But it so happens that instead of showing up political opponents, it only proved the baseness of the .mind of the man tendering such' advice, and the subsequent admission, the low estimate entertained by him not only of the Premier of t-hri colony, but of fhe individual to whom the counsel was •given, ttr George Grey may be pardoned for attaching so much importance to.this.subject; for, as he characterised it, a base plot had been laid for himself; an attempt .had been made to injure his reputation; 4"3 unfair means had been taken to gain an advance of money for a certain district. Want of space preclqdes us in the present issue from the furfcber criticism of the address,

but we will take an early opportnnifcy of again referring to its salient features,