A Bitter Article.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 560, 22 January 1891, Page 2

A Bitter Article.

[Wbllisotos Post.) Were there no legal or technical difficulties ia the way, Sir Harry Atkinson's selfappointment to the Speakership would be a most improper and positively indecent proceeding. That a Premier may succeed to the Agent Generalship is established by precedent, although in Sir Julius Vogel’s case strong exception was taken to the proceeding by a largo section of members in each branch of the Legislature. Still that appointment was made, not by the Ministry of which he was himself Premier, but technically by the Ministry which followed the Ministry which succeeded his. Practically, of course, these Ministries were the same, but tljey acted and made the appointment while Parliament was sitting, with its knowledge and subject to its criticism, and their conduct was supported by a majority in the House. The position then was a very different one to that which now exists. But qven under present circumstances little exception would bo taken to Sir Harry Atkinson appointing himself Agent-Gepera'; >f that office were vacant. If he has patience he will probably get it yhen the vacancy arises, whatever side |s tn power, unless, indeed, the Whitaker v. Hutchison case interposes some obstacle. To the Agent Generalship he has claims, and fie possesses certain qualifications for it. To the Speakership of the Legislative Council he has no claims whatever, and he is not possessed of a single special qualification for the office, Sir Harry Atkinson is of far too irritable and combative a temperament to make a good Speaker in any case, but hia irritability is now much intensified by illhealth, and it is notorious that his illness renders sustained attention to any .object impossible on his part for more than a vory short period. The faculty of patient attention during long debate, is essential to tho proper discharge of a Speaker's duty. It would, indeed, be a miserable spectacle to see a Premier grabbing eagerly, regardless of all other considerations, at the first billet which would assure him a good salary for the rest of bis lite. We should be sorry indeed to see Sir Harry Atkinson bring the discredit ot such a proceeding upon himself and upon New Zealand. That he has claims upon tho polony lor lengthened public services, honest, we believe in intention, though Very of'pn sadly mistaken in direction, we at ones'admit, it tvould not ba creditable to the colony to east him aside without consideration. It is well known that he hat not bonefi'ed pecuniarily by his lengthened political career and exceptionally long enjoyment of office- H'S best years of life have been given to the colony, and we never pay our public men a sufficient recompense for tho sacrifice of their private puraui'a, time, and 'health, Which political service demands from them. The idea of a Minister saving money out of his salary was always ridiculous, and Sir Harry Atkinson, in an excess of economical virtue, was foolish enough to out down the Ministerial salaries to an absolutely starvation point. We think it might be a wise eoonomy on the part of tho colony to make provision for retiring allowances to men who have held office for, say, not less than ten years, and who would bo willing to declare that their circumstances rendered such q special provision necessary. Ministers who retire in England are entitled to an allowance—a handsome allowance—on making such a declaration. As we have already said, wo would not object to see Sir Harry Atkin, son appointed Agent-General for a three years' term, or, failing this, or at the end of that term provided wilh a pension which would enable him to live comfortably ; but we derive to protect most emphatically against his appropriating to himself, by any Intrigue or arrangement, the office ot Speaker ot the Legislative Council.