THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1008, 16 July 1883, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

The debate on Mr Montgomery’s resolutions, condemning the evil effects of centralism, has come to an end, and it must be admitted that the result was a foregone conclusion. That there was not a particle of doubt as to the Government having a substantial majority on the question, the most ardent admirers of the leader of a certain section of Her Majesty’s Opposition must have felt thoroughly convinced ere the division took place. From the actions of Sir G. Grey and Mr Montgomery during the present session, it is to he inferred that these two political warriors can never “ row in the same boat.” Sir George on the one hand will never suffer himself to play “second fiddle” to Mr Montgomery, as the Knight of Kawau’s autocratic temperament is too well known ; while we question very much if Mr Montgomery would even accept a portfolio under the “ poor working man’s friend.” We do not and never did regard Mr Montgomery as a political “star,” as the radiance he has as yet shed o’er the political arena is more of the “penny dip” order than that of a brilliant illuminator. But we do think that Mr Montgomery would make a much better servant in the interests of the colony—and Canterbury in particular, of coui’se —than Sir George. It is a thousand pities that Sir George does not set a better example to other members of< the House. No man in the House is endowed with liner gifts if turned to proper account, but his utteiances of late have been nothing but inane platitudes, totally foreign to the subject debated. He speaks on nearly every subject brought forward, and as often as not goes off at a tangent or discourses on any mortal thing that comes into his head. He will introduce and quote the Greek mythology on a discussion for a concession to a county or road board, and will bring on the scene the inevitable “ working man ” if a proposed grant to a harbor board is under discussion. It is a great point of Sir George’s that he places a high value on first principles, but it is a lamentable defect that he has no grasp of detail at all. With regard to Mr Montgomery’s resolutions, we think there can be only one opinion as to which form of government is the best. Not that we do not admit there are serious flaws in the present system ; but no person who has watched and studied the past —the forgotten past, we trust—-and

weighed the relative merits of Provincialism as against our present form of Government have failed to witness the great amount of good it has brought about. Tn the days of Provincialism, there was confessedly a great deal more “ log-rolling ” going on than there is now, and the result was that the larger provinces got the lion s share of every good think going. Now that this debate is at an end, we trust that the House will settle down to work, and not to waste the time of the country on idle and fruitless discussion.