The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1883. A Prospective Minister.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1089, 1 November 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1883. A Prospective Minister.

When the Hon Frkdk. Whitaker resigned the office of Premier, and the then Colonial Treasurer was chosen to reign in his stead, it became necessary to remodel the Ministry, Then arose a mighty cry from Auckland that that province was not in any way represented in the Government, and the complaint was followed by the chidings of certain virtuous newspapers in -the South, which pointed out the narrowmindedness of those who advocated the principle of provincial representation in the Cabinet. We quite admit the viciousness of the principle from an abstract point of view, but the fact remains that in New Zealand it has always been recognised as advisable to choose the members of the Ministry from different parts of the colony. In this instance, however,Major Atkinson if he desired to follow precedent, was in a dilemma. There was actually not a single one among the Auckland members who had shown sufficient ability to be entrusted with a portfolio, with perhaps the exception of Mr Swanson. But it was well-known that the member for Newton had an insuperable dislike to taking office, and if report is to be trusted he has during the past few days received an offer in this direction and has refused it. As nothing had been heard of this matter lately we thought that probably the Northern people had made up their minds to bow to the inevitable, and that they were resigned to non-representation in the Cabinet. Last week, however, we learnt that the Premier had suddenly left Wellington for Auckland, and rumor immediately became busy in speculating as to the reason for this abrupt departure . First we had the report we have referred to concerning Mr Swanson, and again it was said that Mr Morris was to be offered a portfolio; and lastly, it is Mr Peacock who is to be the fortunate man chosen, albeit he is not to occupy the prospectively vacant office of Minister of Public Works. The mystery with which this journey of the Premier is invested smacks of the ridiculous. It may be that the stories which have been circulated are simply canards invented to enliven the ineffable political dullness of the present season, but if Major Atkinson is really hawking a portfolio round the Auckland province, searching for some member to accept it, all we can say is that it is reducing the provincial representation principle to a palpable absurdity. As to the capability of Mr Peacock for holding the position that it is asserted has been offered to him, it is impossible to hazard an opinion. Locally he may be considered a fit and proper person to occupy the post of Minister, but outside his own constituency he is practically unknown. He is indeed the nearest approach to a silent member that we can expect to get in a New Zealand Parliament, but an abiding respect for what Carlyle calls the “ eternal silences,” valuable as it is, if only for its excessive rarity, can scarcely be said to be a qualification for one of the Governor’s responsible advisers. If, therefore, the member for Auckland North is received into the Cabinet he will owe his elevation not 10 any ability he possesses, but solely to the fact that he is a representative for a Northern constituency. All other things being equal, we admit that it might be an

advantage to have the Ministry composed of men selected from all parts of the colony, but under the present circumstances it would be manifestly wrong to give Auckland a voice in the Cabinet, when those of her representatives who support the Government are quite unfit to undertake the responsibilities of office. Before long the Premier will be called away to Sydney to take part in the Annexation Conference, and it it is found necessary to appoint another Minister the post should be given to one who has had more experience than Mr Peacock, even if the time-honored principle of provincial representation is set at naught.