The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1878. THE PREMIER AT THE THAMES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 244, 4 January 1878, Page 11

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1878. THE PREMIER AT THE THAMES.

IB GEORGE GREY'S speech to his constituents- ' has been read with great interest, and not a little anxiety, by all New Zealanders. The honourable gentleman's policy is the same as of old, but in this speech he has announced his principles mo distinctly and emphatically than hitherto. Sir George Grey is a statesman of a high order, and a speaker of great eloquence,- and has nodoubt produced a great effect on his constituents and throughout the entire colony. His principles and policy will be received favourably by a large majority, and cannot fail to meet with the sympathy of all. " A population well clothed and well educated " is precisely what all admire, desire, and each in his way, labour for. It would be impossible to find any one who would be opposed to the existence of such a blessing,. But, then, how is this blessing to be secured ? This is the great point, and we regret to have to say that Sir Geo. Grey has not yet satisfied us in reference to it. JHe has, indeed, told his constituents that his Government will resolutely set its face against the sale of large blocks of Crown land ; and that this will, to a great extent at least, bring into existence a well fed and well clothed population for all time to come. We are sorry we cannot agree with him. The experience of mankind proves that something more than he has yet proposed is required to secure the end he has in view. The policy of not selling large blocks of Crown land to individuals, may prove a palliative for a season, but that is all. But a great and wise statesman will not rest satisfied with such a result as this. Perhaps Sir Georue Grey has some plan in reserve, of which we have as yet no indication, by means of which New Zealand is to be saved in the future from the evils arising from a large landed aristocracy and a population of serfs. It is to be hoped he has. It is a well known fact, established by the history of all times and places, that capital commands labour, and that the tendency of land is to accumulate in the hands of individuals ; and that one of the peculiarities of the Anglo-Saxon race is its admiration of a lord, and its yearning after a large landed proprietary. The history of the nations of the European continent affords innumerable proofs of the truth of the first two of these assertions, and Sir George GreYs experience of an agitation kept up for years by the English settlers in the Cape of Good Hope cannot but teach something very suggestive as. to the last. Is Sir George Grey prepared to recommend for the adoption of our colonial legislature the provisions of the Roman Dutch law as to inheritance ; and for the repeal of which the English colonists of the Cape of Good Hope, particularly the wealthy amongst them have agitated so long and earnestly. And yet there is no other way possible to prevent the existence of large landed estates. Under the Roman Dutch law, and similar laws prevailing in many of the nations of Europe, large landed estates and other properties become necessarily broken up after the death of their owners, and thus is effected a never-ceasing distribution of land and money amongst a multitude of people. Nor is it in the power of the admirers of great families and estates, to create by will a large landed proprietary. For the law absolutely forbids such wills and declares them invalid. And this is precisely one of the provisions of this wise law against which wealthy English colonists, who whilst poor, were democrats, but aristocratswhen grown rich, so loudly proclaim. In the midst of their riches they complain they can not raise up great families to perpetuate their name, in grandeur and by the possessions of tens of thousands of acres. Time will tell what the Premier really intends to propose on this subject. But another question arises. How is Sir George Grhy going to secure for this country a well educated people, intelligent, knowing its rights and duties, and moral, prepared to exercise the former justly, and to do the ! latter fearlessly ? This is the great question, and we much

regret we are not at all satisfied that Sir George is likely to adopt the only plan or system of ■ education that will secure such a population. It is not now worth while discussing the question what Sir George Grey, if left to himself and free to carry out his own views, would do in the matter of education — for the. present at least. He has accepted, with seeming approbation, the new Education Act, and is surrounded by colleagues who have either voted for this Act or advocated a worse system. Purely secular education it is to which the ■colony is now and shall be, for a considerable time to come, subjected, and all who are not now deluded or wilfully blind, cai entertain no doubt whatever as to where .this must land the people. -, , , v, f -<■ '■„-,.,! ' The example of all tlio countries which years' »ago 'adopted •• a godless or a mixed system of education l is-'a'c'lbs.ed' l oopk' ! tb l our politicians. In Germany, France, an,d the ttn,ited~States , of Amorici, such systems have led directly tcwiderspread infidelity, and political and social insecurity. ■ Jiu Germany, godless education has ended in the abandonment 'of the churches, to contempt for the ordinances of religion, and the rejection of Christianity, except in name ; in -the United States of America to the filliug of the gaols with thcwelleducated pupils of national godess schools ;• and in France, to perpetually recurring revolution and political anarchj'. It is madness, therefore, to anticipate peace, prosperity, and morality from the system 1 of education lately sanctioned by the Legislature for New Zealand. To us ; therefore, Sir Geouoi: Grey's expectation of a well-fedj wcH-clothed,'and "well educated New Z2.ilaiid population has little foundation in fact.