The Poverty Bay Herald. AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 876, 29 August 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald. AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1879.

Two days ago the mail steamers, one coming North, the other South, brought to us an unusually large set of exchange newspapers. In our desire to ascertain what is the feeling of the country through the pi'ess, we have carefully perused the political columns of our contemporaries,- and we cannot blind ourselves to the fact that the Grey party appear to be greatly in the ascendency, and likely to be returned to Parliament by a large majority. The difficulty which the electors appear to be under is the drawing a distinction between Ministers and their policy. The latter meets with universal approval, but the Premier, while in disfavor with a very large number, has still a very big following. This, in a great measure, is due to the eloquent deliverances of Sir George Grey, the great persuasive powers lie undoubtedly possesses, and the apparent sincerity of his convictions. Another element may be added — his profuse • promises of liberal legislative measures, so emphatically pronounced, that people cannob "altogether bring themselves to believe will be readily broken. That the Grey party will be in power, after what we read in the public journals published both in the towns and the provinces, there appears now to be little doubt. How to get rid of the Premier is the great stumbling block. Those who know the man also know that something more than moral pressure will be required to remove him, but what more than moral pressure can be employed is what puzzles and confuses the electors. If on the assembling, of the new Parliament, a direct vote of want of confidence is carried against Sir George Grey, it is not by any means certain he would resign, for although a great stickler for what is constitutional,, probably no more unconstitutional Minister, as "regards his acts, ever existed. But it is^ even doubtful that a vote of want of confidence will be moved against the Premier : and even if this be done, there is no present warranty in the aspect of affairs to induce a belief that such a vote will be carried. A new Parliament may feel inclined to place Sir George Grey once more upon trial ; and Sir George, taking warning from the past, may perhaps come to learn. that he is more likely to retain office by keeping faith with Pa.liament, than to further continue in the breaking of promise's. .Now, then looking at matters from our own domain, the question arises who shall we return ? If the Grey party continue in power, and Captain Morris be returned, we shall have sent a representative to the House who has been a most bitter opponent of the present Government, and who, from his own spoken words, will continue to oppose Ministers to the bitter end. What then can Ave possibly expect sucli a man will be able to do for Poverty Bay, as a representative in the House in a minority 1 We do not now speak about Captain Morris as not being a* local candidate. We speak of him as one whose influence with the Grey party will be just nil. A«y demands

he may make for his electorate will certainly nob be backed up by his personal influence, for of personal influence lie will have none ; and the electors in returning him will not be long in discovering the great mistake they have committed — that is if the. Grey party continue in office, which appears only too likely to be the case. Setting Captain Morris aside as a man who may be willing, but who will possess no power to do any good to Poverty Bay, we shall then be be reduced to the choice of one from among the two remaining candidates. These are Mr. Allan McDonald and Mr. Woodbine Johnson. The latter has addressed his constituents here. The former will do so this evening. When this has been done, it will then become our duty to assist the electors with such information as we possess as to which of the two candidates will possess more power and influence , in the House towards benefitting the Poverty Bay portion of the electorate.