THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGE “Verite sans peur” WANGANUI, SEPT. 5, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 251, 5 September 1861, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGE “ Verite sans peur” WANGANUI, SEPT. 5, 1861.

Tn E debate in the house of Lords, which took place on the moving, of the seeornl reading of the New Provinces bill—(the intention of which is, Jo set at rest doubts entertained as to the legality of our New Provinces bill) —is a woeful display of ignorance, in regard to New Zealand affairs, on the part of those at home who have so much power to exert either for the benefit or injury of our country. Earl Grey’s speech,"especially, may be characterised as little better than disgraceful to a man who like bjin has dabbled so much in colonial affairs, and has himself held the office of Colonial /Secretary. In his early days Earl Grey hbld liberal views in respect to colonial government. In the debate on - New Zealand affairs sixteen yearl ago, when Sir George (then Captain) Grey; was appointed Governor of New Zealand, he said, —“Some mistakes mighC-be 5 made but,; looking to what their ancestors had done two centuries ago under the system of representative government, and contrasting it with the blunders of the Downing street administration, experience:.was decidedly in favour, of, allowing a colony to govern itseif.” Now lie recommends that, our representative system of government be sus-

pended for three years, and Sir George . Grey invested with despotic powers. Afterwards our popular-Government. might be resumed—provided his Excellency’s advisers were-chosea by the Crown, and ’Holding office while they behaved well, —that is, in accordance with his Excellency’s views,— : and provided a fixed appropriation were made for -thc-experices of the government, and for native matters. This would be representative government indeed ! We would not quarrel with Earl Grey’s chfinge of opinion merely' because it is a-change; but because it is a change in the wrong direptioii, and defended by, arguments which wilin' bear a moment’s examination by any one even

cursorily acquainted with the mode of government here. The natives, according to hiin. are in rebellion because the authority of the Governor has been reduced to a shadow; his Excellency.being obliged, in the general affairs of government, .to act on the advice of his ZL’xecutive Council, who are mere delegates of the Assembly ; and being entirely deurived of even the appearance of' authority in the provinces, because the Superintendents are elective, and can refuse to carry out any part of the Governor’s policy they may object to. The natives are also aggrieved because the entire power of government is placed in the hands of a European minority. The certainty of the native .discontent having arisen from this system ofpopular government-is evidenced, Earl Grey declares, by the fact that the discontent began shortly after Sir George Grey’s departure. Now, it is. well known, that in the administration of native affairs Governor Browne lias been uncontrolled in the slightest degree by ..the colonists. It is also well known, that the provincial governments have only to <b» with provincial matters, just a 3 municipal au : thorities have.to do with municipal matters ; and it is absurd to say that any .difficulty.-has been placed in the way of the Governor by the popular election of Superintendents .of provinces. . • ‘

JVliy does Carl Crey try to ascribe our present difficulties .to our representative- system of government, when bis own speeeb furnishes him.with a far more likely reason ? He applauds the manner .in which Sir George Grey managed the Maoris by personal influence gained by r “ kindness and .consideration/’ But lie fails to see, that the withdrawal of this influence, in the departure of Sir George Grey, was. the occasion of a change in the., spirit of the natives. They had not been governed by laws, but. kept quiet by presents. The presents were withdrawn, but the laws were not. enforced, and thus the confusion began. Sir George Grey must know better than the Earl, lie must also be aware that public opinion lias far more weight now than •it had • in 1840. And therefore, whatever powers he may have .received from the home Government, he will not dare to act so unconstitutionally as he did on liis former assumption of the government of this country. But the ignorance and despotic tendencies.displayed iu such speeches as Earl Grey’s, only show the necessity: of the colonists’ jealously guarding their liberties against any encroachments, and gaining the sole controul over ■ native affairs ; if only to show, by the wise and temperate use of their power, that there is--.no • ground whatever for the aspersions cast upon them, and that they are as anxious to act fairly by the natives as the home Government, or the most - benevolent of our countrymen at- home, cab- be. The only part of Earl- Grey’s speech at all near the .point is that relating to Taranaki—in regard to which lie wisely says, that if there was a doubt as -to the justice of the course pursued, that doubt ought to have made the Goveruor pause.