POLITICAL NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 562, 27 January 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

(YROM OVB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Saturday. It is stated on excellent authority that tbe followiug will be tbe new Ministry: — Mr Ballance — Premier, Treasurer, and Native Minister. Hon. P. Buckley—Attorney-General, and leader of ihe Council. Mr J. McKenzie—Lands and Agriculture, Mr I’. Seddon—Mines, Public Work.. Mr W. P. Reeves—Colonial Secretary, Education, and Justice. Mr Cadman—Postmaster-General, Mines, Customs, and Defence. Messrs Rees and Fish wrote to Mr Ballance relieving him of any obligation he might f tel be was under in regard to their claims to office.

It is probable that Messrs Fish and Percival will be whips for the new Ministry. When Mr Ballance presents the Ministry to the House he will ask some weeks’ time to acquaint himself with the state ot the colony’s finances before attempting to lay measures before the House.

The Post sounds the following funeral note regarding the Ministry : —lts career has been a dishonorable one, and the evil effects of its policy will long continue to be disastrously feit by the colony. Its systematic disregard of the most solemn engagements, its constant trucking to any show of opposition which threatened to endanger its position, its habitual disregard of all priucip'e and its uubiu-hing bargaining for support, have all tended to degrade politics aud to eliminate honor from the essential conditions of pubbe life. Never has political morality stood so low in New Zealand as it now does, aud its deterioration has been marvellously rapid during the last three years. Most devoutly do we hope that it has now reached zero, and that there are no lower depths sub to be sounded. Its most bitter enemies could scarcely have wished the Ministry a more ignominious ending than has befallen it, dissolving into its elements amidst a chorus ot contempt from one end of the colony to the o>her, joined in by former friends, as well as foes, and justly exci ed by its final breaches of faith and honor, falsifica tion of p edges, and audacious disregard of all constitutional law and precedent. Sir Harry Atkiuson is not to be congratulated upon the means by which he has compassed the attainment of a position which, under ordinary circumstances, should be regarded as one of the highest in the colony. To active political life he may now be considered dead, and we regret that the record of former good and honourable service has been sullied by the events of the last three years, so as to prevent us truthfully writing a flittering epitaph. Of his colleagues, two only are ever likely ro again hold any position in political life. These are Captain Russell and Mr G. F. Richardson, In regard to them public opinion finds many extenuating circmnstances to mitigate the severity of the general verdict against tbe Ministry, Dunedin, Satursday. The Globe thus discusses the personal qualities of the new honorables“ Mr Whyte has been a mere cypher in the House, has voted at his party’s call, and is only distinguished as being the value of some of tbe assets of the Bank of New Zealand; Mr Ormond is Chairman of a foreign loan company, a big land owner, and largely interested in Maori land; Mr Johnston was a member of the House for a tevy years, and di i nothing—he is, however, a large land owner and a Conservative ; Mr Bowen is the manager or secretary of a big land and loan company ; Mr Fulton is an unobjectionable man who has voted faithfully, and as Sir Harry Atkinson told him; Mr Dowaie Stewart was elected in opposition to the Aikinson party, Pledging himself to the other party he sit on the rail on various occasions, and on a critical division he ‘ ratted,’ and behold he has been rewarded. When or bow or whether a bargain has been made has not been disclosed. Sir H, Atkinson is the last and we do not object to his obtaining the reward of the Speakership, but it would have been more becoming had his opponents given him the office.” The article proceeds :— u The Government has set tbe precedent of 1877 at defiance. There is not a Ministry left to censure, but there is a Governor to be censured, aud if this House of Representatives is worth anything it will take very goo-i care to pass a strong vote of censure on Lord Onslow for having sanctioned such nominations. We wonder, if the new Government proposed to put in seven labour candidates, whether he would so readily comply with their wishes. We hope that gome member will at once table a vote of censure on the Governor, It will do him no harm to be taught the lesson that the Xew Zealand Democracy is not going to stand this sort of thing without vigorous protest. The Marquis of Normanby’s offence was venial compared with what Lord Onslow has been guilty of, and someone not afraid of Governors or of Government Houses should at once bring his conduct before tbe House. There is no precedent in any colony for a Governor, on tbe recommendation ot a defeated Ministry, appointing even one person to the Legislative Council. The Ministry have broken their word, and have violated their solemn pledgee. If the House is strong enough, it ought to pass an Act to cancel the appointments, for the act done is against good government. If our public men cannot be trusted, we have fallen on evil days.”

Napieb, Saturday. The Evening News state. : — Th atti ude adopted by Lord Onslow on the question of ibe Legislative Council appointments is such us to call for criticism by the Press and action by the House. ‘ 1 am not responsible in this colony to any person.’ That is wh-tt the Governor .aid, and no doubt he is technically correct. He has winked at a piece of Tory jobbery of the very worst kind, and when respectfully approached by a number of the repre-ente-tivea of the people he received them co d y, treated them with the scautest courtesy, and put a snub upon the whole country Lord Onslow has shown his Tory teeth; he hst.g the Democracy now triumphant in this colony, aud be does not trouble to conceal his dislike for them Very well, let him go his way and let the Hoose go theirs The Governor’s salary ia £5OOO a year. He may not ’bo reaponsible 'to any person in he colony,’ but he gets his salary from the New Zealand taxpayers, and ihe representatives of the taxpayers ought to prac ically show Lord Onslow their displeasure at the course he has adopted. Cut down his salary to £BOO a year, the salary of a Minister. If His Excel ency doesn’t like to take that amount, let him take himself and his family back to England. We can get on very wed here with a E ective Governor, who wou’d do the work just a, wel l for £BOO a year, and who would be responsible for the colony. Wellington, last night. The following members of the new Ministry were sworn in on Saturday afternoon :— Mr J. Ballance—Premier and Colonial Treasurer, Minister of Native Affairs, Commissioner of Trades and Customs. Hon. P. A. Buckley —Attorney General, Colonial Secretary, Postmaster-General. Mr W. Reeves—Education and Jnstice. Mr Seddon—Public Works, Mines and Defence. Mr McKenzie—Lands, Immigration, and Agriculture. Mr J. S Ward—Member of Coupcil without portfolio. At a caucus of the Government party held this morning, the question of Chairmanship of Committee was gone into, and it was decided to put up Mr W. C. Smith, (Waipawa). The Native Land Commission, now sitting on the East Coast, will be most likely extended for another six months. A meeting of about 30 members was held on Saturday night to discuss the matter of the men dismissed by the Railway Commissioners during the late strike. It was de* cided to form a deputation to wait on ths Commissioners to urge that the men in question ba reinstated. It is almost certain now that Mr Ballance will forthwith ask for time in which to brine down a poli-y. It is also considered that the present Session will not last more than a week, but prorogue till May. The Governor meets the House at 2 30 p.m. to-morrow (Tuesday). It may be taken for granted that Mr Goldie will not consent to jain the Government, so the Auckland min will be either Mr Kelly or Mr Cadman. It is- almost sure to be the latter, Tb.re is some curiosity to know whether any ot the J.P.’s rscontly appointed will have tbe backbone to throw up appointments made under such discreditable conditions—that is, by a detested Government. Mr Goldie, who ia talked ot as a probable Minister, went to Wellington with theinten* tion of trying to form a middle party devoted to a Skinflint policy.