The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1880. A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 393, 22 October 1880, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1880. A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

§H ~v-

E great Civil Service Commissioner, Mr. Saunders, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Kaikoura on the evening of the 19th inst. A report of this speech appeared in the Otago Daily Times of Wednesday last. The hon. gentleman apologised for not having addressed the electors during the last recess, alleging, as his excuse, his appointment as a Civil Service Commissioner.

He then endeavoured to account for and excuse his breach of pledge. He -was elected as a supporter of Sir Gborob Grey's Government, but he immediately " ratted," and went over to the Opposition. This, in itself, sufficiently accounts for his silence during the last recess, and it was quite unnecessary for him to plead his appointment, which need not have prevented him devoting one evening to his constituents, and which affords, in reality, no excuse at all. Mr. Sauntders may or may not have had valid reasons for deserting the party and Government he had pledged himself on the hustings to suppoit; but the violence and recklessness of his language in reference to Sir Georok Grky and his colleagues, will have the effect of causing dispassionate people to pause before accepting his statements, and his excuse for his change of sides. According to Mr. Saundebs, Sir George Grey's protestations as to economy and reform were all moonshine, whilst his practices were extravagant and even iniquitous. He accused the late Government of having not only mismanaged the affairs of the colony, but of maladministration oi the worst possible kind. He asserted that Sir George Grey's Government had spent money for vile purposes ; that Sir George had surrounded himself with two men destitute of principle, and three devoid of brains ; that Sir George had squandered public money for the purpose of rewarding friends and favourites ; Mr. Macandrew to satisfy toadies ; and Mr. Sheehan to satisfy self-indulgence. This is a heavy indictment; and, if true, it must be said that Mr. Saunders has scandalously failed in his duty for having neglected to impeach Sir George Grey, Mr. Macandrew, and Mr. Sheehax. If these gentlemen were really guilty of the crimes charged upon them by Mr. Saunders, they deserved impeachment and the severest chastisement. But if they are not true, then what is to be thought of the honesty, public spirit, even sanity, of Mr. Saunders? But this is not all; these are not the only extravagant statements in this speech of Mr. Saunders. He further stated " that the crushing debt the colony was now groaning under, and likely to continue for a century was brought about by the reckless extravagance of the late Government." This is palpably absurd : when the late Government came into office in succession to Major Atkinson tha colony owed twenty-four millions of money, and the treasury was empty. Now the country owes twenty-nine millions, some of which has yet to be spent. How under these circumstances the crushing debt of the colony was brought about by Sir G. Grky's Government, only a Mr. Saundbeb, M.H.R., can fee.

Mr. Saunders, the economist and blameless legislator — for otherwise, of course, he would not throw stones — is of opinion that agriculturists should be freed from all possible taxation, and that the country must continue the education rote. Why agriculturists should be lightly taxed, and the other classes of the community heavily, is not apparent, except on the ground that Mr. Senders' doxy is the only doxy. Nor is it very clear why every person in the country should be taxed for the purpose of giving a free and godless education to the children of rich and well-to-do people. How such a system of Government is calculated to promote economy and lighten taxation Mr. Saundbrs sees, or, which is the same, thinks he sees, but nobody else can. If Mr. Satjnders will take the small pains necessary to add a few figures to be found in Major Atkinson's financial statements he will quickly ascertain that the amount of deficit which has brought upon the colony the present financial crisis and the new taxation laws, corresponds exactly with the amount spent during the last three years on the free and godless education of the children of parents who were well able to pay for their education, whilst the children for whom Government ought to provide have been utterly neglected. Here is the true source of the running sore which has angered Mr. Saundkrs so much, and so pained him as to have, it is to be feared, imperrilled the equilibrium of his judgment.

Bishop Moban, in acknowledging the receipt of the sum of £176 3s. 6d., the amount of net proceeds of the late concert in aid of the Cathedral Building Fund, begs, on his own part and that of the Catholics of Dunedin, to tender his and their best and warmest thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who so kindly and generously placed their valuable services at the disposal of the Concert Committee. He also begs, on his own part and that of the Catholics of Dunedin, to thank all who so liberally patronised this concert, and proved by their presence their sympathy with the efforts made by Catholics to raise up in this city a cathedral that will be at once a credit to the city, and a monument of their zeal in the cause of Christianity. A pamphlet intitled " Bible in Schools " has been issued by " Prophetes," a gentleman who has written several able letters in condemnation of the secular system, and in which he has generously advocated the fair treatment of his Catholic fellow-colonists. The pamphlet in question contains these letters, together with extracts from speeches and other utterances in which the cause of religious education is soundly argued. The compilation is well selected and should do good service in the overthrow of godlessness. His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese will hold a visitation at Taieri on Sunday next. His Lordship the Bishop of the diocese held a visitation at Milton on Sunday last. The Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to thirty-six recipients, and delivered a suitable address ; preaching again in the evening, and on both occasions to large congregations. On Monday His Lordship spent some hours in examining the Catholic schools, and was much pleased with the answering and evident progress of the children. At a meeting held at the Royal Exchange Hotel, Dunedin, on Wednesday evening last a statement was made by the treasurer of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the late concert in aid of the Cathedral Building Fund. The gross 6um received was £221 11s Od, and the amount of the expenses incurred, £45 7s 6d, leaving a net sum of £176 3s 6d for the benefit of the fund. The accounts wera audited and found correct. We may add that there still remain to be accounted for tickets amounting to a sum of about £7, the receipt of which, or of any portion of it, will be duly acknowledged in our columns. In the early part of last month the boys attending the Christian Brothers' School and the ex-members of the school joined together in formation of a cricket club. As it was found that the ex -members formed too large a proportion of the club, it has been deemed advisable to form two distinct clubs : the one consisting of Catholic Young Men, including the ex-members of the school, to be called the St. Joseph's Cricket Club ; and the other to comprise the present school boys and those who have left recently, to be named the Christian Brothers' School C. C. At a meeting of St. Joseph's C. C, held on last Saturday, twenty joined as members, and Mr. J. Colville was elecied captain, Mr. Jas. Griffen, deputy-captain, and Mr. R. A. Dunne, hon. secretary and treasurer. It was resolved that the three members above named, with Mr. J. Hayes, form the committee of management. The committee have arianged that the opening match will take place next Saturday, the 23rd inst., on the A9ylum Ground, between St. Joseph's First Eleven and 18 of the C. B's. School C. C. St. Joseph's team will comprise :— J. Colville (captain), J. Griffen f J. Hayes, it. A. Dunne, J. Bonney, J. Attridge, J. Philp, T. Deehan) M. Dunne, N. Giiffen, J. Ahem, Emergency ; A. Harris, F. Barker. Flay at 2.15 p.m, sharp.