The London 'Times' on the Defeat of the Grey Ministry.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2994, 21 November 1879, Page 3

The London 'Times' on the Defeat of the Grey Ministry.

A SHORT time ago a cable message from our London correspondent mentioned aU article in the " Times" on the defeat of Sir George •Grey's Government. The telegram excited some interest. By the last San Francisco mail the paper was i.eeived, and we give the article in exteuso :— " A Ministerial crisis and a chauge of Ministry in New Zealand are the natural and inevitable results of the recent proceedings of the Colonial Premier, Sir Guoj;ge Grey. Two months ago the House ■of Representatives, on the motion of Sir William Fox, the leader of the Opposition, ■declared by a majority of fourteen—_rlc«xth of the total number of members—that it had ceased to repose confidence in Sir George Grey's Administration. Sir George Grey was not the man to acquiesce without a struggle in this adverse decision, and heat once called upon the Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, to grant him a dissolution. A Colonial Governor, according to the most recent " leading cases" in ,onstitution.l law, is not bound to follow the julvicc of his Ministers in cdn-si-cring a demand for a dissolution, but Sir Heucules Robinson apparently saw no reason for refusing Sir George Grey the opportunity he desired of appealing to the constituencies, and, stipulating only that the supplies for the year should be first obtained, he dissolved tho Legislature of the colony about the middle of August. The writs Were auade returnable four weeks later, and we mow learn that tho Ministry have been defeated, and that Sir George Grey lias resigned. Tho Hon. John Hall has been intrusted with the task of forming a new administration, which will probably combine all the elements of antagonism drawn together by Sir George Grey's restJess andcxtieme policy since he took office an 1577. Whether a stable Government can be established on this negative foundaiio n is uncertain, but it can hardly be doubted that the colonists have had niore than enough of Sir George Grey and Lis schemes. For two years the colony h_s been disturbed by multiplied projects of democratic change which are uot sought for by any influential body of citizens, and by auisuuderstandings with the Queen's representative and the Home Government,which are not to the taste of so loyal a community as the people of New Zealand. To these reasons for discontent has been lately added the feeling excited by Sir George Grey's refusal to interfere between tho settlers aud the Maoris in the Taranaki land dispute. As Sir George Grey had come into uower not so much by the aid of any popular movement in favour of universal suffrage or other democratic measures as through a temporary reaction against the policy pursued by the previous Administrations, the abolition of the provincial system, the development of centralization, and the bold financial enterprises of Sir Julius Vogel, he has found that his hold upon the "country is easily shaken off. The hostile vote of the Legislature has been followed by a more decisive defeat upon the appeal to tlie constituencies, and ior the present, it may be taken for granted, Sir George Grey's career as a Minister in New Zealaud is at an e„d.

it cannot be wished, either in the interest of the colony or of the mother country, that Sir George Grey should again obtain the control of the policy of New Zealand. AYe regret this for the sake of a public servant who in his time has filled high and responsible offices with distinction. For many years Sir George Grey was known as an able and trusted representative of the Crown iv more than one of our colonies. From 18-10 to 1846' he was Governor of South Australia ; from 1846 to 1854 he was Governor of New Zealand ; and from 1854 to IS6I he was Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. In IS6I the Colonial Office sent him once again to New Zealand especially to deal with the Maori troubles, at that time formidable and persistent. During his .econd Governorship he conducted the native war of 1863-64 to a fortunate issue, and after the restoration of peace he finally retired at the close of 1867. Not long afterwards he settled permanently in New Zealaud without any intention, as it appeared at first, of taking an active part m colonial politics. Some three years ago, however, when the colony was excited by the discussion of the " Provincial Governments' abolition question," Sir George Grey re-appeared in public life and was suddenly elevated to the position of a party leader. A rapid change in the balance of political power in the colony gave him a majority, and he was tempted to retain his popularity by democratic promises as reckless as those which Mr Berry was offering about the same time to the populace of Victoria, But the colonists of New Zealaud, are for the most part moderate, easy-going men, who would not, perhaps, be called Conservatives in an old country, but who are not eager to try all at once ia their half-developed and thinly-peopled country the extreme conclusions of democratic policy. Sir George Grey promised to give the colony universal suffrage, shortened Parliaments, and representation according to numbers. But, having no force of public opinion behind him, his pledges remained barren, and his inability to give effect to the schemes which he declared to be necessary brought his Government into something like contempt. Bis executive administration was not more fortunate than his legislative enterprises. He was repeatedly charged with unconstitutional proceedings, and a deplorable want of temper involved him in a quarrel with the late Goveinor, the Marquis of Normanby, which lasted until the latter was transferred to the Governorship of Victoria at the close of last year. Sir George Grey's unsatisfactory relations with the representatives of the Crown led him to take up an attitude of hostility towards the Borne Government, and not only to censure the conduct and criticize tho opinions of the Colonial Office, hut to suggest measures tending to weaken materially the Imperial conuexion. One of his proposals, that the j Governor of New Zealand and of other selfgoverning colonies should he chosen by the popular vote, was deemed of sufficient imimportance to demand a refutation from Lord Normanby, who, in his farewell speech at Dunedin, pointed out that such a system would practically involve separation from the mother country. To this Sir George Grey's supporters candidly replied that they saw no prospect of injury to the colony, but rather benefit, in that consummation. Public opinion in the colony was by no means prepared to adopt the extravagant conclusions to which the Prime Minister would thus havo committed them, and men of all opinions and connexions have combined to repudiate his policy. In other respects the administration of Sir George Grey has been not less unlucky. His financial management has been seveiely criticized, and a deficit of about a quarter of a million must probably be acknowledged. He has fallen out with more than one of his colleagues. His Attorney-General left him iv June, and his Treasurer a few weeks later, the latter after a personal altercation with the Prime Minister in the Government offices, which caused much scandal throughout the colony. But it is the native policy of Kir George Grey that has been vioAved with • the greatest disappointment. When the late Ministry was formed, the most sanguine hopes were founded upon Sir George Grey|s supposed influence over the Maoris and his skill aud experience in dealing with tlicm. As it has turned out, however, native relations have been in a less satisfactory state within the past two years than at any time since the close of the Maori war. The agrarian troubles in Taranaki were only a symptom of the prevailing uneasiness. It appears that the Government has shown in its management of the Maoris at once a want of consideration for their claims and a want of firmness iv encountering violence and defiance of law. The settlers of Taranaki, whose farms were recently invaded by bands of Maori ploughmen, complain bitterly that the Government refused, not only to protcqtj their property, but even to advise them how 'to act. They have themselves arrested the intruders, and fortunately the Maoris, though asserting their alleged rights in a violent manner, do not seem inclined to offer any further resistance. The exasperation of the colonists, however, is natural, and probably it has as much to do with the defeat of Sir George Grey's Government as even the animosity aroused by his disturbing projects of democratic change and his unfriendly attitude towards the mother country, - ' ■ .