THE DIVISION ON THE PIAKO DEBATE.

Waikato Times, Issue 641, 29 June 1876, Page 2

THE DIVISION ON THE PIA KO DEBATE.

Sib George G;<»y's first political nuiro's nef.t;uf the 'session has brftugjib upon h'u*\ defeat, atid ridiculo. Our miders, like ourselves, will be somowtiat taken by surprise at the sweeping character of the division on what wrs neifclwr taore nor loss than h question of want of confident in the Miimtry. Fifteen or sixteen w«s the majority expected by tho""friends on eilhor side, bill, a majority of 32 in ft House in which 72 members out of 88 wore present, is at once decisive and assuring. Th.it the Opposition should have pushed «he realtor to a division is somewhat surprising, as to have let the question go npou the voices would ob Icaht have thrown some cloak' over thfdr weakness, if not in the eyos of the .House,' at k any rate in those of the country/ .Ths blind confidence of the Opposition leader has led him, however, to disregard the advice of member* of his p-.rty lo^s reckless Jhan himself, aud Mr tfees' wiser flppeal to the Opposition to *alk out without^ voting, has beerf thrown away. All sensible' and tnTTderato men will be glad that it has been .so. Ib is well thab the position of parties should stand out in bold and unmistakable relief The public interests of the Colony demand that tho real work'of the session should bo allowed to proceed,, and that neither Sir George Grey nor any other man shall, for party purposes, be allowed to obuti'nci the more important business of the. counlcy. The Piako swamp grievance may Je-talten as a fair sample of the chnrirea of Diioisterial eorruptioa — political windmill* which this Enigbt of L i Mancha, spour in rokt, is so fmd of tilting" at. We have no objection, if it please Sir George Grey, as it plMsed Don Quixote, iW, >m iking tha dmvnshcd and un^haved of Auckland Ins Talcirea, he should magf.ify windmills into giants, o>', taiiinqf the mini Serial Hock of iunocent sheep for an army of robbers, oharge, lance in rest, 'into their midst. An inoidont •of (his kind occurring occasionally through the session would do no b arm, would arau£o the Knight of Kawaa, and reliove thoVijedium of more serious b isincsß. But, wo do tsost seriously 0 jcufc to this sort of political harlequiuade b.-m^ niade tho chi«f occupation of thf 1 fgislaturc. The Colony is crying for v M sound prnclicU legislatioj), anil cumu.t aQ ird that the, valuable time ftntf enemies of Us jepreaontatives should be frittered away iv 'tlie enquiry into qu«v.tioi]s of Uwßifcelves ipimportant, and which load to milling. fvanfc tha Abolition qnestioti detinilively wsltlod, and a new and workable system of self-government for town and coojitry inaugurated. We neeJ the fiuancial position of the Coluny put uj)ou a clear and solid basis, and the r»'la',ion3 between the natives and the Government brought lo a satisfactory condition. L':t. Siy George Grey, if he can, bring More tbe Assembly a Local Govern-m-iut Bill, which shull outriyul that of the Government— let, Him show himself worthy to bo the succosaoi' in native 'imnr^emAit to the present; Native Minister, itt Limsolf, or, bis. henchman, .•he member fur the City J&st, show them--o\\ ix tha superior of Sir Juliruiu financ, £»ii.l the Hoa&eaud tho coantry y.illgla.liy

\vclcnn\e hi-; opposition, nu,d rluvv him ii liispiTbrfc. But, Sir Goir^e Groy li is i'.kw no evitlmi'e of such intfnfion or a'»i!rj Ue lias p^oruised mncb, lib has p»iforme nnHiing. Frothy doeHmatioruj ha 3 ccrii piwl the p'aco of prrsctic-il s»at'->s»,:inship tin- 1 the country U weary of Iwtonln^ t> charges of in competency mid corrap'io. reiterated rtganst the miuistrv, f.. r whic' no ground on n be shown, and which ar uctujit«d merely by the" desire for plac and powp'r.