THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 546, 26 June 1879, Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1879.

MR. OKMOND'S SPEECH. Mr. Orscond it sesms has been waiting for •ome of the Ministers to speak, and give him an opportunity for reply; but his patience being at la?t exhausted, he yesterday evening addressed his constituents atWaipawa. His speech is certainly- the most incisive criticism on Ministerial action which has been delivered during the recess. Compared with the tedious twaddle of Mr. Gborgb M'LEan, the inflated utterances of Mr. Stevens, and the vapid common places of Mr. Richardson, Mr. Oemond's speech is positively' refreshing in its crispness. He is always a severe critic, but his criticisms rarely carry with them much weight, owing to the intense personal feeling, often amounting io absolute vradiciivenelss, which they display. So far as can be judged from the telegraphic report of last night's speech, Mr. Osmond seems to have been moderate in tone, and to have abstained from intruding his personal animosities. This being so, there is undoubtedly a good deal in his adverse criticisms on the actions and policy of the Ministry with which the general public will be disposed to agree. Of course, ha had much to say about the Maori dual vqte for that is a subject of vital importance to every Hawke's Bay representative, and Mr. Ormond is quite entitled to believe that the proposals of tbe Government, bad they been carried, would have proved fatal in his own case, and would have led to a speedy termination of bis political career. As the attempt is not likely to be repeated, it is scarcely worth while going into the subject now. Reference to it, however, served to introduce Mr. Ormomd itt the new character of an electoral reformer, and the first notable portion of his speech is his announcement that he intends next session himself to introduce a Bill to confer residential franchise on Europeans, and to increase the number of Maori representatives. Coming from a private member, this is a singular announcement. Representation and the Franchise are subjects on which the House has a right to expect the Government to take the lead in dealing witb, and if any private member fee's strong enough to carry such measures despite the Government, then he should certainly be strong enough-to oust the Ministry from tneir seats, and should do it. No Legislature could possibly accept measures of the kind indicated from a member of tbe Opposition. No one knows this better than Mr. Ormond, and probably the guarded statement he has made covers the expectation that when the time comes to introduce these Bills he may sit again on the Ministerial benches. If so, we very much doubt whether the Maoris will get the additional members, or as residents the votes which he is kind enough to offer. Mr. Ormond has clearly enough indicated his objection to a redistribution of representation on the basis of population, but there is nothing new in the arguments by which he supports that objection. It is somewhat surprising to find him giving a qualified assent to a reduction in the term of duration of Parliament from five to three years. His objections to the reduction of Customs duties and to the land tax are of the thorough Tory stamp. Mr. Orkond views, these questions through the rich land-owners' spectacles, and the medium rather distorts his vision. He supports bis objection to a land tax by one of those little anecdotes about what a convenient friend said to him, which all Mr. Orhoad's political associates keep really on hand at all times. This is the story: — "He recently applied to a gentleman at Home for funds to improve his property, but the gentleman replied, stating that notwithstanding the high interest offered in New Zealand, capitalists were averse to sending their money out, because they had no guarantee that the land would not soon be burtbened so as to render the security anything but desirable. He mentioned this to prove that an apparently well-tounded rumor of a proposed increase in the land tax was reaching Home, and was having an influence on English capitalists." This story does not inspire one with a very high opinion of the business capacity or general intelligence of Mr. Osmond's friend, but it makes us wonder at the credulity which this friend exhibits in accepting and acting upon the assertions which Mr. Orkond and his party in the Colony are constantly making on the subject Mr. Oricond's next proposal to abolish the system of subsidising local bodies from the general taxation and making them dependant altogether on rates is an unmistakeably sound one in theory, but we fear impracticable at present. It was Mr. Ormond's own party which introduced this vicious system of subsidies, but the local bodies having once tasted the sweets of subsidies from the colonial chest are not likely now to submit to deprivation, and they are too strong to be enforced. It is very satisfactory to find Mr. Okkond declaring his concurrence in raising a further loan of three millions ; but here again we observe a hope indicated that he and his friends may be in office to spend the money,for we find he "defended his conduct in Opposition last session in refusing larger borrowing powers to the Ministry, as their conduct since had shown that the Sjuth Island would get everything and the North Island nothing." This is rather a singular line of defence, for the actions of the Ministry since last session could not have influenced the vote he gave last session. He must have had other reasons for that vote at the time, and it is mere accident that he has found tbe subsequent justification. We assume, however, that if Mr. Ohjaohb was afraid to trust the Government last session, and believed that their conduct during the recess has shown that they would have used the money unfairly^had they got it, he is not now willing to place an additional three millions in their hands. His assent to further borrowing may therefore be considered conditional on his party having the spending of the money. This detracts greatly from the satisfaction we shonld otherwise feel on the subject. His remarks on the Thames railway, the civil service, and the Hinemoa, were of the usual stereoBped character, but his attack on Mr. . M. Rbkd was uncalled for and ungenerous. Neither was it consistent with the truth, and had Mr. Kbed beeu in the Colony we doubt whether Mr. Ormond would have ventured to say what he did. His criticism of the native policy was trenchant, but, as usual with his party, he conjured up the ghost of Sir Donald M'Lban to aid him. We really wish that people would let poor fir Donald rest in bis quiet grave. 1 1 is perfect nonsense now to speculate on what might have happened had he lived, but is not difficult to trace much of what has happened to the seed he sowed. Had he been here to watch the growth, of course the fruit might have been different. With a great deal of what Mr. Okmond said ia strong condemnation of the native policy of the Government, as shown in tbe negotiations with Tavhiao, Rewi, and Tb Whiti, we cordially agree. He might well have been more severe regarding their apparently entire abdication of the functions of government on the West Coast, and his moderation on this point is a practical confirmation of the statement that the Opposition are disposed to treat tue question on higher grounds than those of mere party. Every colonist will applaud his words — " War would be, no doubt, a very grave calamitychecking the influx of population and capital ; but the duty of the Colony was quite clear. We must maintain the supremacy of our race. He thought the opposition to the Government would not be lound placing impediments in their way so long as they en-

deavored to maintain the dignity of t c Colony. There was only one thing in the whole business on which we could congratulate ourselves. He j referred to the action of the West Coast set- ¦ tiers, and the decided stand which they took in preparation for their defence. The forbearance shown by them was worthy of praise in the highest terms. They deserved the thanks of the whole population of the Colony for their action." The remainder of his speech was a justification of himself and his political asso1 dates from the charges which he, wrongly, we think, assumes have been levelled by Insinuation against them of instigating and encouraging the natives to defeat the negotiations of the Government. He also defended Majors Jackbon and Mair from the charges of a similar character which have more directly been made against them. We no not seek to identify the persons either with the leaders of the Opposition or the two gallant officers to whom Mr. Okmow D referred, but we confess we do not altogether Share his entire disbelief "in the existence of any of these alleged traitors, except in the brains of those who had circulated the slanders." We have now briefly touched on the main points of Mr. Okmokd's speech, and we need only add that bis constituents awarded him a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.