The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1887. ELECTIVE GOVERNORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 27478, 12 November 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1887. ELECTIVE GOVERNORS.

—. a In the House on Thursday last, Mr Joyce, on behalf of that veteran reformer, Sir George Grey, moved the second reading of the Electior of Governors Bill. When a division on the question ensued, it was found that twenty-nine members were favorable to the proposal, and fifty-five against it. The expediency of Parliament devoting time to the discussion of an abstract subject of this character is. . more than doubtful. In the eyes of the world New Zealand has been , foolish and reckless, and it is extremely ■ desirable that even if we do not : possess the virtue of a little prudence, we should assume it for a while, till '! we regain in a measure the confidence' ■ w.e' have. lost by . our speculative ,j tendencies. .The mere discussion : of i a proposal which, would be calculated : to throw our political machinery into J disorder, will do mischief at the present time. The abstract principle ; of an elective Governorship may be > wrong or may be right, but it is \ absurd to raise it at-a time when we ,| supposed to be putting. our house in ] order. The mover of the resolution ' on Thursday last contended that if w j enjoyed the" privilege of electing a | Governor, we could find a man for 1 the office who would be acceptable to |j the.Empire as a whole, as well as to the colony, but though it is very 0 possible that we could find a ram aw i who would please the New Zealand •' electors and charm the Colonial Office, c 'there is no guarantee that the ballot n 'papers would' return such a man. I Young New Zealand is in haste fo be a ; great nafcioii, and faus the national a feeling in season and out of season. c Change, ceaseless purposeless chiinge, i is the-order of the day. Looking back on changes it is painfully a obvious that very many of them have I been unfavorable to the real prosperity b of New Zealand colonists. They have' v increased our- burdens, and in very many instances have not augumented p our resources. " New Zealand is one h of a group of British Colonies,,.and a possesses butoae'pre.-eminence,'viz., 4i

the questionable credit of bearing a bigger load of debt than its fellows. Should, at any time, the question of an elective Governor become urgent; it ought to be determined, not by an isolated colony, but by an inter-coh>' nial Conference. The adoption of the principle would be a step towards the disintegration of the BritisliEinpire if .it were taken by,a single colony like New Zealand.. If, however, it were affirmed by the united voice" of the Australasian Colonies, there would, be less fear of mischievous results. The policy of New Zealand for some time to come,' should be one of consolidation rather than disintegration.' We have to a considerable extent forfeited the confidence of the British Empire by repeated indiscretions, and the twenty nine Radical M.H.E.'s who are eager to further compromise us by sending our nominal Governor, perhaps the most sensible man in the Colony, abcut his business, are well meaning enthusiasts, whoso political projects require for the present to be sternly repressed.