SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCES.

Western Star, Issue 51, 31 October 1874, Page 6

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCES.

\ (From the Otago-. Daily Times, Oct. 22). fThe important positions which Sir George Gfey has held in the Empire, his long connection, with this Colony, extending over some of the most critical periods of its h’story, and his acknowledged personal ability, will always ensure for any published expression of bis opinion on the topics of the day a careful and courteous consideration on the part of bis fellow-colonists in New Zealand. On this account his petition to ths Governor, which we published yesterday, will have been read with eager interest throughout the length and breadth of his adopted country. From his hiding place at. Kawsu Sir George has until the present moment made no sign. He Ims apparently been content to forget his old rank amongst us, his old popularity, his old readiness in our service. To use. hie own words, he has industriously and quietly occupied himself with his own pursuits, and has taken no part in political affairs —or, we may add, in any social movement whatsoever. "When, therefore, he at last lifts hia voice, and that too, in loud and. earnest tones, the conviction at once forces itself on every mind that the matter which has aroused him from t his studied lethargy is something of more than ordnary importance.. Not only docs that which he undertakes to say acquire interest from the antecedents of the speaker, but the fact that it has drawn him into speech lend* a new importance to the subject which be deals. To every one who dispassionately considers Sir George’s Petition in the light of the present condition of affairs in New Zeal ami. these circumstances which have caused him to approach its perusal with an exceptional feeling of interest will only prove to be oiumdafive reasons for disappointment. For the document itself has a two-fold character. As a mere protest against hasty legislation it will cany with it the sympathy of every man. But as a m»rift*slo against the long foreseen and now rapidly approaching- abolition of the Provincial system of government, it i* hut the plaintive whine of an inventor who sees his ingenious devices about to bo superseded by more practically useful improvement*, the value of which has been determined not by theory hut

.y the hard logic of experience., The burden of fc’ie argument, which lies half-bn vied in this rambling petition, is that the General Assembly of New Zealand does not represent its people ; ♦ • at the Irov'ncial Council* and the Superintends its do and that, therefore it will be dangerous te our liberties if the superior Legislature should bo permitted to alter the status, character) or fun‘lions of the inferior. Like a great many Other argument?, this one is unassailable if we do ut grant fell * premises. We nre not prepared to do anything of the sort in this case.. No one can r ad this petition without coining to the conclusion that Sir George Grey is lamentably wanting in a.rqu.dhhthce with the present condition of ftTairs in this colony. Half-a-dozen years of conantard rapid change have rendered his knowle Ige of the circumstances and requirements of the people of New Zealand and his theories on the subject o ; their good government alike obsola e. That he does not. perceive this fact is a thing that may well be forgiven him, so long as he lives in obscure retirement at Kawau. Not so w*( n he undertakes to define a line of conduct for tlie Governor of the Colony, when he lends th-i weight of his name and fame to statement? about our affairs which are very wile of the truth, when he brings to bear all the influence naturally and properly accruing from a long and tie inguiohed career in the public service to thwart the cherished desires of the great bulk of the people of New Zealand. He makes one statement in the document before os, which, if he could establish it as a fact, would render all the rest of the pe'ition a waste of words. He assarts without qualification, and evidently vrit-'i a childlike faith in the truth of his belief, that <: tl® , p-jvn c al •? fed r .1 has b «n perfectly successful in this country.” Why! tin only argument that over was advanced in favor of the abolition of that system has been that it has ' in the past been only partially successful, and is •at the present 'time, in many cases, an utter failure. Here, again, is something which he -claims as a merit of the provincial system: — * Your petitioner and hie fellow-colonists have by these some institution* the very ui.usual right confirmed to them Of making their own lans upon all;local subjects, without such laws bainp sent home for the confirmation of the Crown, i whereby ono great cause of probable danger ol dispute ultimately arising between the colony and t;ie Mother Country is removed, and the inhabitant s of the Provinces have assured to them the entire right of their expenditure of their owi funds, and free lom from any interference bn tin part of the Home Government to compel then to incur anv expenditure of which they may dis approve.” \Yill not. our fellow-colonists in othcparts of the Empire who may see this pet it laugh as they read the pretension put. forwar that this is sudd an 'especially favoured colony ; left then not true that notwithstanding thes, msgio provincial institutions the Constitution o. New Zealand contains restrictions on the fre. legislation ©f its colonist* ~on the subject of.the disposal of their waste lands introduce I therein at-, a sequel to the manner in which the more impot tant settlements of the colony were founded, t; which, none of the other self-governing colonies ol (

the Empire are subjected ? .We can.only account for such statements as these we have referred to being'found with the signature of Sir George Grey below them, by calling to remembrance the proverbial fondness of a father for his first bom. That we owe the form of our present constitution mainly to Sir- George- Grey every one is aware. We can well believe that to his dying day he will never acknowledge that it has not been “ perfectly successful s in this country"—never relinquish the belief that it alwai s must be so.

With the immediate prayer' of the petition we need not deal.. It is in the last degree unlikelv that Sir James Ferguasnn or his successor will call the Assembly together at this season of the rear* or at any time in the absence of the Premier. The alleged fact of what Sir George Grey savs helms been “ credibly informed.” viz., that one of the objects of Mr Vogel's visit to England is *o obtain an alteration by fbe British Parliament of the New Z aland Constitution }Act, has been authoritively denied. This su I *en burst upon the arena of New Zealand pe’itics to which Sir George Grey’s faltering affection for hie hantliljgconstituti’on has incited him, seems to us from beginning to end m» illcon si lere.l proceeding, about the last that his career as oir Governor would hare led u». to expect from him.