CHANGE OF MINISTRY.

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2200, 20 October 1877, Page 3

CHANGE OF MINISTRY.

Since the memorable flight of Sir Julius

Vogel, his successors have led a troubled life. Entering office without any of the conflicts that usually precede the gratification of a politician's ambition, they have since had to pay the usual price, and the season of possession has assuredly not been one of enjoyment. The policy of their former head was for a time so hotly disputed, that ifc enabled him from its supporters to build up • a Btrong party. No sooner was it recognised, with insignificant exceptions, by bolh the House and the country, as settled beyond further question, than discipline became relaxed. At this stage a new excite- , ment was invented by Mr Stafford, and ''■ transferred with dubious generosity to his victorious rival. The circumstances were related by Mr Stafford in the debate on the Waka Maori, adding another chapter to his autobiography. He informed his bearers that he had instigated Sir Julius Vogel tobring down the Abolition resolutions, the reward of assent being his support. Still ■i influenced by his old Otagan ties, Sir Julius, in the absence of his mentor, and to his disgust, attacked only the North Island provinces, and soon after escaped to Europe, \ where he took care to remain till the worlr was completed, fearing to face the angry reproaches of the friends to whom he owed everything, and whom he had thrown over to!giVe!pleasure to his and their most bitter .enemy. Taken into office at the bidding of 'Mr Stafford to carry out the constitutional ; change he had prescribed, there need be little wonder that Major Atkinson's temper '.. so often mastered him, when he was taunted iNvith being a member of a continuing Minia'try. He felt that he owed no allegiance to his nominal chief, and indeed on some occasion betrayed an indecent readiness to abandon bis interests. All this is now revealed,. > and will by no means soften the hostility which the ex-Premier did bis best to excite. 7 ; Q u t of Abolition every man of experience foresaw must come a change of Ministry. ; Had the provincialists accepted their defeat ' last session, instead of buoying themselves :up with the absurd hope of the Imperial Government interfering on their behalf, a well settled policy'would long since have y 'been formed. As it was, they held together ' under Sir George Grey till a considerable tbody of the more temperate had united to force a change. The obvious want of the v Middle Party was some one, so generally acknowledged to possess superior skill and 7 experience as to entitle him to the leadership without exciting dissension. Among •. them were several of fair ability and good repute, but not one to whom the other aspirants would yield. Many of those who "hated Major Atkinson distrusted Sir George Grey, and would have preferred to go on as they were rather than accept him. The one capable man was' cleverly neutralised last year by being made Speaker. If Sir William Fitzherbert had refused the chair, he would still have been bound in honor to have. < backed his brother Knight, having pressed him, originally to become chief of the .Opposition. As Speaker he could not be a party to any movement in the House, and without him a majority could not be obtained, A rumor was cautiously circulated that il Ministers were beaten, he would be prepared ~ to, vacate'his office at the end of the session and accept the Premiership, and with this . half-hearted couceß.ion his friends were '' forced to content themselves. '' On this a number of votes were given, when Mr. Larnach made his attack oh the poor little Waka Maori. It was plain thai the issue was tod paltry to warrant a changjp, of Ministry being based on it; and some oil the,'more squeamish still held ibsck. Theydesired to have something they could have % hope of putting with approval before their

constituents, seeing that so much fuss about a miserable rag would be laughed at., Accordingly this move failed. Mr. Larnach had accomplished as much as his capacity entitled him to expect, though not all the great pro-consul saw he could achieve. Two objects were longed for by Sir George. The first, to get rid of a Ministry, now known to be the delegates of Mr. Stafford ; the second, io intercept the appointment of men too independent to be ruled by himself. Mr. Larnach won both. In the most artistic fashion he deluded the Middle Party to vote with him, and then in the caucus contrived to have his prompter put up, contrary to a distinct arrangement, and installed him as Premier.

The Colony has now at its head the man of all others least trusted. It is the result of Government by caucus. Had Sir George made the attack in bis.capacity as Opposition leader, he knew that he must fail. A tool was selected so adroitly that the best tacticians were deceived. The, Premier has avoided committing himself to any policy, relying for popularity on making the most reckless charges against his predecessors. When these are refuted, some fresh ground for abuse will be discovered, and so it willgo on, till the House wakes to a sense of its own dignity, and the duties it owes to the country. The Ministry he has scratched together is ludicrously weak' but the danger from having such men in office is too serious to permit the proverbial rope being given. Some move towards common sense must be made without delay, whoever may come to the front, The unreasonable caution of the man of the time—Sir William Fitzherbert—has extinguished his influence. He has missed the chance of serving his country, and he may depend that, whatever happens, this specimen of weakness will prevent any one asking him again.