SIR GEORGE GREY'S POLICY. (Wanganui Herald.)

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 446, 27 March 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY'S POLICY. (Wanganui Herald.)

If Sir George Grey makes a few more such mistakes as the one committed in replying to the deputation which requested him to stand for Auckland City West, and for the Superintendency of the Province of Auckland, the Provincial party will find to its regret that it has attached too much importance to his petition to the Governor, protesting against the proposed constitutional changes, and that Sii George is as little able to help their pet institutions, out of their paesent dilemma as the least among them. We do not intend to go back into the facts connected with the petition further than to prove that he appears entirely unable to find a clear way out of the maze into which he has threaded his way, and that some of the arguments used in his petition, and the suggestions thrown out at the interview are utterly irreconcilable. The whole gist of the petition was that a certain Constitution was granted to New Zealand, whereby a Governor was given to the Colony, and the Government of the Colony further divided into three estates ; namely, the Legislative Council, the House of Representatives, and the Provincial Governments : that this form of Government has given such entiie satisfaction that its adoption in other parts of the British Empire was being seriously contemplated. When with this is compared the telegraphic report of his reply to the deputation, provincialists may well ask themselves the question whether it will mot be necessary to look

to ;—"; — " Sir George Grey doubts the necessity iOi w Governors in the Colony with a responsible Government. • It would be infinitely better if each colony tad power • of electing some foremost citizen to reside in London as Secretary of State for the Colony r with the privilege of advising Her Majesty on questions affecting the Colony.. No plan of constitutional reform would be complete which did not grapple with the question of Constitution. He considered the Upper House present system quite indefensible." Had Sir George Grey suddenly dropped all his constitutional objections to the proposed changes, and announced that he would defend the ' provinces merely from the point that they were very desirable institutions — or had he even completely abandoned his defences — the change could" not have been more damaging to their cause. When a politician comes forward of his own free will to defend a cause, and when that politician is one of such long and high standing as Sir George Grey, he naturally draws the eyes of the public upon himself and should that cause be a sinking one, and he express certain convictions and principles by which he will be gnided, it will be necessary to exercise the utmost care, and any wavering on his part will assuredly be taken as a sign of weakness. Sir G. Grey has^one v all this. He has come forward to protect the cause of provincialism when it had been condemned^?/ Parliament, and when a large majority of the Rectors of the colony had approved, as far as they could, of the decision thus given. He came forward and declared that the present Constitution had given the greatest satisfaction, and fchat it would be illegal on the part of the General Assembly to carry into effect the resolutions of last session — that it would be a tampering with the Constitution, andthat it was calculated to rob the electors of the freedom granted by the Constitution Act. What does he say now ? He certainly adheres to his former declaration as far as the existence of the provinces is concerned, but he proposes changes in the Constitution which we in turn are not prepared to say are in the power of the General Assembly to >iaNy>out. He does not see the necessity for a GoveVmbrVith a responsible Government, and thinks it Amilcl be infinitely better if each colony had power to elect one of its foremost citizens to reside inr-Lpndqn as its Secretary of State with the privilegeW^djrising Her Majesty on questions affecting the Cblonjk^.ln other words — the colonies are to drift ba<H£ into something similar to the old fashioned Crown -colonies, the difference being that in place of a Governor they will have a representative at Home, and an irresponsible Government here. What the results of the latter would be is amply illustrated by the present state of affairs in Nelson, and by the attempt made by Messrs Fitaherbert and Bunny in our own province. It remains to be seen whether these views will be quietly swallowed by the electors of Auckland under the impression that they are grand ideas evolved from a great mind for the preservation of their present institutions. We should imagine that they will be found to partake largely of the illusive and impractical Such\ change in the programme of the future leader of the provincial party is a strong indication of weakness, as it would tend to strengthen the belief tk^t the leaders of the party are admitting their l*ia\tety to defend Provincialism, and are looking f&r otker grounds on which they would have a better Chance of gaining a victory. Whether this is so or not, it is to be regretted that no abler leader could be found. It would be far more satisfactory to the public, and also to the anti-provincial party to have the question thoroughly sifted, as it could then be said that everything favorable to the provinces had been duly considered, and that even, then it had been found wanting. We are anxious to hear Sir George's reply in full.