The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5666, 28 May 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1879.

Apart from the Maori difficulty, which must in the natural course of events cease to exist before the lapse of many years, and in the meanwhile can only be formidable when its solution is left to charlatans or fools, the ,position of New Zealand challenges comparison with that of any other British colony. We have here a young and prosperous community living under a system of government which gives to every man full and complete personal liberty, the right of acquiring property with perfect security for it when acquired, and the opportunity of taking an active part in public affairs should his inclination lead him in that direction. That these are not mere meaningless esproa-

sions is within the knowledge of every one from the Premier to the day laborer. The industrious frugal man can be sure of “ a “good living,” and if possessed of brains —a commodity which no Government, however liberal, or Legislature, however wise, can supply—may hope in the course of time to acquire wealth andaprominent position amongst his fellow colonists. The majority of our public men have been the architects of their own fortunes, and even want of early education has in a multitude of instances proved insuflicicnt to bar the road to distinction where natural capacity for the administration of public affairs has been conspicuously present. An English or American statesman would point to Ne w Zealan das a bright a: i d pro mi - nent example of what free institutions can accomplish when theyarepoasessed by tho Anglo-Saxon race in a new and fertile country. This being the case it is at first difficult to understand how any set of men with a full knowledge of the facts should stand forward and openly declare that the great body of New Zealand colonists have hitherto been kept in a state of semi-subjection to a comparatively small wealthy class, whose sole object, according to this new doctrine, would appear to be to stand in the way of progress, andtrouble themselves but little about the people’s burdens, provided only that their own shoulders remain unencumbered. It is difficult also to understand how any considerable number of people could for a time have been brought to think that these pseudo-reformers were the apostles of truth, or really believed in their own teachings. The transitory success of the Grey Ministry will form a curious and instructive episode in the political history of New Zealand. We do not mean substantial success as shown by superior finance, by the passing of useful measures, or in dealing with the disaffected portion of the Maori race, for under each of these heads there has been nothing but egregious failure. The finance has clearly demonstrated the incapacity of the Treasurer, and may lead to grave complications in the future ; tho statute book of last session is, singularly barren of useful Government measures ; and as for the Maoris, all the world knows that after years of unbroken peace, though not of cordial intercommunication with Europeans, a large number of tho natives have been driven into a state of sullen defiance. In after times, Hxkubangi, Te Kofua, and Pabihaka, will constitute good reference names for the guidance of those who may wish to study the peaceful victories of Sir George Grey. Our use of the words transitory • success has reference merely to the fact that during some months tho Premier unquestionably held a certain sway over the opinions of a large number of his fellowcolonists, especially amongst artisans and laboring men. It may not be an unprofitable task at a time when - another session of Parliament is approaching, and speculation is rife with regard to what it has in store for the Ministry, to remind our readers how it came to pass that Sir George Grey was enabled in the first place to lift himself into power, and then for many months to make a considerable section of the people believe that his merits gave him a legitimate right to be there. There is nothing new under the sun, and the artifice or dodge which obtained the ex-Governor a substantial following in the House and a party in the country, is a great deal older than representative institutions, and will be had recourse to successfully ,so long as mankind are liable to be deceived. Some of those who went with him knew right well the measure of their chief, and followed him in the expectation of place and power, an expectation which, in not a few instances, was doomed to be disappointed. More gave their support because of the outside pressure of constituents ; but the majority, no doubt, acted honestly in accordance with their belief at the time. Sir George’s plan of action comprised, firstly, an elaborate attack on the wealthy portion of : the < community ; secondly, an endeavor to show that Now Zealand politicians had, ever since the inauguration of responsible ■ government, shamefully neglected the interests of the working man; and, lastly, a mass of promises specially adapted to attract the attention and captivate the imagination of the masses. It is hard to believe that he deceived himself as to the real state of the case. His whole public career is against any such supposition. But, whether he believed his own teaching or not, his smooth words,for the time secured him the power which he coveted, and months elapsed before the sham began to be recognised by his adherents. A change has come over the scene. Many of them both in and out of Parliament see very clearly at the present, day that all this abuse of old and tried public servants is quite uncalled for, that New Zealand requires no very radical reforms, and that the introduction of such moderate and gradual changes as time and experience may show’ to be necessary had better be entrusted to other hands than those of Sir George Grey and his colleagues.