THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 909, 4 January 1872, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

Mr jr. G. Steward, M.H.E, for I Waitaki, in his addressed to his constituents lately, gave the following I opinions on the members of the Government, their native policy, and the Opposition : But what had we to choose between ? Between an entity, and nonentity—between a decided policy, and no policy at ail —between something, and nothing—between a strong Government, which at least knew its own mind, and a weak, unmanageable, ill-tempered, soured Opposition which did not; an Opppsition without a definite policy, with, so far as I could see, no pronounced ideas, consisting of a heterogenous assortment of some nineteen riien, remarkable only for their loquacity, their bitterness, and, so far as some of them are concerned, their utter inanity. Their leader Mr Stafford, a gentleman, a statesman, and an orator, had little to boast of in his following, and, towards the end of the assumed the role of "the disappointed man," unable to effect anything, no new ideas to bring forward, and merely holding as it appeared a copy of the celebrated brief, *' No case; abuse plaintiff's attorney." What wonder then, that the young members joined the Government side; and what wonder that the Government, notwithstanding personal and political hostilities on the part of some perhaps many, are firmer in their seats, than ever 1 Mi* Stafford's star has set;' iadeed I question much whether he will ever again—except under some fortuitous combination of circum* stances—hold the reins of power in I New Zealand. And now for the Ministry itself—l speak of the Ministry as I it was during the session. The Premier, Mr Fox, although accused by ;some persons of old-womanishness, I twitted as to his teetotal opinions, and his Palestine proclivities, is nevertheless still an able man, and in the debates of the House, particularly to--3 wards the close of the session, showed &a acumen and an elegance, which certainly very few old women possess. I believe him to be conscientious and diligent in the discharge of his duties as the first public servant of the Colony, and I utterly disagree, with those who would have it appear that he counts for little in the Cabinet. Mr I Vogel, who has risen so rapidly to his present position is, I believe, the I shrewdest, if not the cleverest man in I the Colony ; and although some persons entertain towards him a personal I dislike, I do not think that any of I them can deny that he has achieved I let me say, as the ambassador I of the Colony, more than perhaps any | member of any Ministry in the ] Colonies of these seas could havo done I for his Colony. Some people try to I make a great deal of the £3500 or I £3BOO (I am not sure which) which I represented the cost to the Colony of I his mission to America and England ; I but let me say that I believe the I the money was well expended, that I ; know regular vouchors of every item I of expenditure were produced, and I that for what may be termed private I expenditure incurred by him Mr Vogel I handed over his cheque on his arrival. \ The Native Minister, Mr M'Lean, is I unquestionably, if not the chief, one of I the chief pillars of the Ministry. His ] policy with regard to the Natives has | been eminently successful; and I believe that if Native affairs remain under his administration four or five years more, all probability, nay, possibility, of Native disturbances will be at rfn end. And here I have publicly to avow my recantation, or rather my change of opinion. I was one of those who derided what is termed the " blanket and sugar policy," but I am now convinced that peace with blankets and sugar is cheaper to the Colony than War without cither. And hero again was an additional reason on my part for supporting the present Government, because, had j|iey been

turned out, I waa aware that Mr M'Lean would not work with Mr Stafford, and in effect was convinced that a change of administration would involve another Native war, and that, eve'n though the present Government be somewhat extravagant, to turn them out would only be in effect to impose additional burdens on the Colony. Of Mr Gisborne I have only to say that I believe him to be —indeed know him to be—a hard working public servant, and do not hesitate to add that his honesty of purpose and (though some persons may bo surprised to hear this) his eloquence aud readiness in debate, his good tempered pleasantry, and his indefatigable perseverance, render him an immense acquisition to any Ministry. As you are aware, since the session two other members have been added to the Cabinet - namely, Mr Eeeves, of Christchurch, as Eesident Minister in the Middle Island, and Mr Ormond as Minister for Public Works in the North ;Island. The first I consider to be an excellent choice ; but as regards Mr Ormond, although I have nothing to say against him personally, I think it would have been better and fairer to the Middle Island to call to the Cabinet another Middle Island member, to find whom the Ministry need not have gone farther South than the Province of Nelson."