Electineering Instead of Business.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5034, 21 June 1884, Page 2

Electineering Instead of Business.

Sir George Grey's ness[Special to the " Star."] WELLINGTON, June 21. When the House met this morning, Sir George Grey made an effectual attempt to make further capital out of Walker's case. He only succeeded in showing that Government is really anxious to do justice to Walker, and that he himself is to all appearance quite ignorant of the steps which the law requires to be taken in such cases. The course is for a re-hearing to be obtained from the Waste Lands Board, which, if adverse to the applicant, is to be followed by an appeal to the Supreme Court, the Government granting assistance to the aggrieved party if the advice of the Law Officers is to the effect that they -have a fair prima facie case. Walker's case brought up the gunidigging cases, respecting which Sir George had asked a few days ago in the House. It was a piece of cheap theatrical bombastic declamation against the Minister for Land and the Minister for Public Works. Sir George Grey having referred

to it again yesterday, the - Minister forLands gave him the most effective and welldeserved rebuke that any member has received during the present session. He eiinply showed that the action complained of by Sir George Grey, viz., the leasing of gum-bearing country in large areas by the Waste Lands Board of Auckland, was inaugurated by Sir George Grey himself when Superintendent of Auckland, and not interfered with by him while Premier. Having Bhown the hollowness of Sir George's position as a great reformer of abuses on the eve of the elections, he proceeded to say of that position that it was neither honest nor upright. Sir G. Grey, who winced under the attack of the indignant Minister, demanded in a faint voice that the words be taken down ; but the House, on the motion being put, declined the lion gentleman's request. In spite of subsequent efforts, the policy of the House was quite with the Minister of Lands. The Opposition preferred* to believe in the member for' Waimate, and therefore in the Minister for Lands ; and the Government party of course was of the same opinion. The failure of Sir George Grey to score a point was really ludicrous. The matters of course led to reference to the Otago dummycases. Several Otago members fell foul of the Otago Lands Board for its action in the cases of Borthwell and Hertslet. Mr M. W. Green, a member of the Board, made a plucky defence of that body's conduct. The discussion showed one thing very plainly, and that is, that so much can besaid on both sides, that the Governmentwas perfectly right not to have interfered in any way. Mr Levestani chimed into the Otago fight with some story of a misdeed on the part of the Waste Lands Board of Nelson. Thus it came about that the affaire of four Land Boards, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago and Nelson, stopped the greatest portion of the morning's business with a; discussion perfectly irregular and desultory. The whole thing was in the highest degree unseemly, for the simple reason that it was not business, but electioneering. It is a curious instance of legislatorial selfishness, which under Sir George Grey's leadership cannot resist the temptation of wasting for its new purposes the hist few hours of the session, which should be* devoted to the financial business of the country.