SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5755, 28 February 1884, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL SUMMARY.

Tub past month has been characterised by a great absence of political life. It was at one time thought that the question of Federation might piwe sufficiently absorbing to revive some little interest in such matters, but the announcement made on behalf of the Government that it was ■not intended to make it » Ministerial question has, to a large extent, deprived it of any importance it might otherwise have possessed. Sir Gbobgh Grot, evidently thinking that he at last had an opportunity of scoring against his opponents all round the House, lost no time in taking the matter up. At the beginning of the month he addressed a public meeting in Auckland in . the course of which he succeeded in making out a very telling case against the scheme. He condemned the proposed Federal Council as a means, not of securing joint action amongst the colonies in matters of common concern, but as an instrument for transferring legislative power from the local Parliaments to a central Parliament, and he condemnedthescheme as subversive o£ the liberties of the people •of the several colonies. Much the same view has been taken by. the majority of the Press of Kew Zealand, and Ministers, as we have said, evidently see that it might be dangerous ~to risk their Ministerial existence upon a proposal so generally opposed. C- -Sincethe date' of our last monthly-sum-mary fee Leeston polling has taken place, and Mr. Edwabd Wakefield has been returned by a large majority over his opponent. Very general satisfaction has been expressed at the result. Mr. Wakbiteeld is undoubtedly a gentleman whose experience, knowledge, and ability, entitle him to a seat in the House of Bepresentatives. Hβ has been elected on the - independent ticket. There is very general • 'feeling abroad that politics have got into such a condition here that the only remedy is a'general election. If the Government have contrived by a series of blunders to alienate the sympathy of their supporters, ' the Opposition have shown themselves .even Less capable of undertaking the . control of public affairs/ In these circumstance the people have ceased to expect . anything from tbe present Parliament, and are patiently waiting for something to turn .up after a fresh appeal to the electors. .In the hope£ we suppose, of reviving . a fresh interest in public matters, the - Premier intends to address a series of public meetings in the principal centres of population in this island. The etep is undoubtedly a wise one, but we are very much afraid that nothing that Major Atkinson can do or say is likely to give hia Ministry that hold over the people which he hopes still to obtain. In connection with political matters, it may be remarked that the news of the knighthood of Sir Fbxdkbxck Whitakee has been received with very general satisfaction. His career as a public man began almost as ago aa the time of the granting of the Constitution itself. Few men can point to - each a long and honourable career in the "service of the colony; and no one, we think, has grudged him the well earned -honour-just conferred uponiiim. ~V Hativea matters continue> Without .any marked alteration.- The attitude assumed by Bxwi, to which reference .was made in our last summary, does not appear to have • had any. influence upon the progress of the Native Minister's arrangements for the survey of the King Country. It is generally felt that Bxwi'e action is the result of the interference of persons interested in opposing the peaceful settlement of the North Island, but the influence would appear to be but small. Another phase which that opposition has also taken is a proposal to appeal to, the Queen against the action of the Government of New Zealand. The so-called Maori King has announced his intention of visiting England himself for the purpose of plying his grievances before the Imperial authorities. So one here, outside the small circle to which we hsve referred, takes the smallest interest in the project. The public know that for the last twenty years the entire control of Native affairs lias been in the hands of the Colonial Government, and they also know quite well that throughout that period the Natives have been treated with the utmost forbearance and generosity. " King" Tawhiao's mission may give the members «f the Aborigines* Protection Society a aew topic of discussion; but it is to be hoped th*t their irresponsible and mischievous interference will be treated by the authorities at Home in the manner it deserves.

. Nothing fresh has transpired with reference to the state of the revenue since the date of our last summary. No one expects that at the end of March the Colonial Treasurer's estimate of the revenue will be realised. On the other hand it is understood that the expenditure is being very carefully watched, and that every saving which can be effected is being made. The falling off in the Customs revenue is due partly, no doubt, to dull times, partly, perhaps, to the improved habits of the people in connection withourdrinkingcustoms; and undoubtedly also to the protective influence of the existing tariff. Times will, it is to be hoped, improve, and so remove one of the causes. But if the colony is to be as prosperous as it deserves, an effort must be made to relieve trade from the bonds of * protective tariff. If this were done, and were borrowing altogether abandoned, we aught look forward to an era of renewed prosperity and progress in the immediate future. In the meantime there are local sigSß of an improvement in business, however, if it is only temporary. There is every prospect of an abundant harvest being reaped, and although prices are low, the total sum realised from the grain crop of Canterbury and O t ago tUi% year ought to be very considerable.