The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 292, 17 October 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1879.

The great Liberal Ministry is at last weighed in the balance and found wanting. It appears that the estimated expenditure for the current year is nearly a million more than the estimated revenue, and that for every £IOO the colony lias to receive it has to pay away £l3O. If the deficiency is to be met by taxation, the head of every family in New Zealand must contribute on an average £lO during the present year in addition to the burdens already laid upon him. While the colony was drifting into a state of almost hopeless insolvency, was it right for the late Government to appeal to the country on abstract questions of policy, keeping it at the same time in utter ignorance of the ruin which threatened the land. Where is the freedom and liberty the Premier incessantly advocated if colonists are tied down by debt and embarraisment? What is manhood suffrage worth to the laborer who is out of employment and cannot find bread for his family 1 The burning question for New Zealand at the present hour is its financial condition, Triennial Parliaj ments, re-adjustment of representation, and extension of the franchise, though they are matters of grave importance, will neither relieve nor .increase to any material extent its burden of debt. It would be simply suicidal to have rej course to the great Liberal party at tin present juncture to restore prosperity to the colony. That party increased the public expenditure, and shnD its eyes to the enormous deficiency in the ways and means of the colony. Whatever merits the late Ministry may have possessed, it cannat be said that it either understood or controlled the finances of the colony. Under its auspices the colony has drifted into a position of the gravest character, and it will only be by entrusting its affairs to an able financier like Major Atkinson that New Zealand will have a chance to right itself. As a Colonial Treasurer Mr Ballance proved a failure, and Sir George Grey, who succeeded him, was probably less efficient than the member for Wanganui. It is quite evident that Sir George Grey's intellect is not of an arithmetical character, that it cannot apply itself to monetary calculations. There is possibly no man in New Zealand with a finer or move cultivated intelligence than Sir George Grey, and yet it is also possible that there is no man in the colony who applies his intelligence less to matters of pounds, shillings, and pence, or has less grasp on financial questions. Once the colony is freed from the embarrassments which now threaten it, we would willingly soar aloft with >Sir George in the direction of universal liberoy and equality, but with wings clogged with debt and difficulties the colony is hardly in a position to attempt such an Empyrean,

(Loud cheers). Was this loss of time? No, He would take off his hat and give throe.cheers. (Cheers), He proceeded to attack the Hon Mr Hull as a nominee of the Governor, and suggested that an address should be sent to his Excellency the Governor, asking him to dismiss the Ministry. He attacked governors generally and individually, fouling the nest in which he, himself, had been reared, He talked about winning the fight or perishing in the attempt-reminding one of the Irish agitator once depicted by Punch as dying on the floor of the House of Commons with one eye suspiciously closed. The Hon Mr Rolleston replied and accused Sir George Grey of talking 'cant' and making gross slanders. Ho felt ashamed of Sir George Grey in every way as a pubi lie man ; once he had a respect for him now he had none. Mr Rcid followed and attacked the Hon Mr Rolleston for abusing Sir George Grey. Colonel Trimble, who spoke next, alleged that the Grey Ministry found it' utterly impossible to get a candidate to come forward in any of the three Taranaki constituencies. He would mention two or three facts. One "entleman had the promise of a loan of £IO,OOO, and another was made a J.P., and got a considerable contract from the Government, Those two men were the persons put forward to contest the election against his hon friend the member for Egmont. He accounted for the fact that Sir Geois Grey disagreed with all Governors by his desire to become the elective Governor of New Zealand. Mr Hursthouse, who closed the sitting, Btigmatised Sir George Grey's liberal cries as clap-trap. The night was a remarkable one for the very open manifestations which Sir George Grey made of his desire to govern New Zealand, and his litter disregard for all constitutional usages and courtesies,