MR GREY'S CRITICISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12160, 26 March 1900, Page 4

MR GREY'S CRITICISM.

Mr Grattan Grky seems to be rather unfortunate in his contributions to the American Press. Swire months ago we tailed attention to an article appearing in a. New York journal over his signature in which the writer attempted to cast discredit upon the New Zealand Government and what he called its "socialistic legislation." The tone of the article was so offensive that it formed the subject of a special inquiry by the Reporting Debates and Printing Committee of the House of Representatives, which finally recommended that in future members of Mie " Hansard " staff— of which, by the way, Mr Grey is the chief reporter—"should not actively participate in New Zealand politics by writing articles for publication." One would have thought that this would have been a u-ufliciently broad hint to satisfy Mr Grey that it would be wise in his own interests to refrain from publicly criticising the policy of the Ministry of the day. But he evidently considered that it did not restrict his liberty to express an opinion about the colony's attitude towards the war in South Africa, and only a few weeks after the Parliamentary Com-' mittee had reported to the House lie sent to the "New York Timeis'Vfor publication a letter in which he strongly deprecated the military spirit that had taken possession of the people. The letter, while foolish and inaccurate enough, was) not to our mind half so offensive as Mr Grey's criticism of the Government's labour legislation, but as it appears likely to form the subject of v. Parliamentary inquiry we may que.te a few sentences to give the public some idea of its contents :

Throughout the whole of the British colonies in these latitudes the people have gone wild with excitement over the declaration of wax between Great Britain and the little Transvaal Republic. There is no limit to their enthusiasm, and the whole of these democratic communities have become suddenly infected with Imperialism of the most pronounced type. Nobody—very few, at all events — pauses to inquire whether the war is a just one, or whether England has any right to interfere with the internal affairs of the Transvaal. The only thing that concerns them is that Great Britain lias resorted to the arbitrament of superior force, and, the Mother Coiintry having done this, the colonies rush to her assistance in crushing poor old Oom Paul and the comparative handful of people in the Transvaal who consider they have a right to govern themselves without foreign interference or dictation. Everybody feels,- of course, that the Kepublic must go under, and the immorality of the principle that might is right is completely disregarded in this wave of Imperialism) that has swept over the whole of the British possessions on this side of the globe. . . .

To outside nations it would appear not a little odd that self-governing colonies 7000 miles away from the scene of strife should send off bodies of men to do battle against people they have no quarrel with, or that they should think it necessary to assist in the subjugation of a people who claim the right of self-government the same as they do ; but the jingoistic spirit at the Antipodes is too inflamed just now to care anything about the rights or wrongs of the question. What is uppermost in the public mind is that the Transvaal Kepublic, as a nation, must be effaced, and the whole of the South African Continent painted an imperial red from the southern limits of Cape Colony to the Equator. Of course, no one for a moment doubts that England can accomplish this unaided by colonial troops, and why, therefore, should these distant colonies interfere at all?

There is not, after all, anything very outrageous about these comments. It is evident that Mr Grey is neither "wild with excitement" nor affected by the "wave of Imperialism " that is passing over the whole of the British possessions; but it must be confessed that he has presented the " Little Englanders'" view of the war very temperately. If he had left the letter to speak for itself im-tead o.f writing a long rambling explanation to the Premier, in which he makes a. most unworthy charge against a fellowjournalist, the House of Representatives would probably have taken a very lenient view of hi« indiscretion. But when he declares that the members have given their countenance to " one of the most unjust and unrighteous wars recorded in history," and implies that their reason has been made captive by the " demon of Jingoism," they will probably feel disposed to emphasise the recommendation of the Committee that the officers of the House should not be permitted to participate in New Zealand politics. Mr Grey seems to have entirely, overlooked this recommendation. He will probably plead that it was not intended to apply to the discussion of Imperial politics, but this will scarcely excuse his very frank allusions to the part the " self-governing colonies " have played in "crushing poor old Oom Paul." We may, however, safely leave the Committee to interpret its own advice to the House. The only lesson that we can suggest from the incident is that " Hansard " reporters who wish to supplement their incomes by journalistic work should refrain from parading their names before the public. »'