The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1883. Deputationising’.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1029, 19 December 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1883. Deputationising’.

The Hon Edward Mitchelson will have long since realised that the posi--1 tion into which he was so suddenly thrust by the Premier is by no means a bed of roses. During the tour of the South Islaud which is just concluded he has been assailed on all sides by ; deputations, and considering that he is new to the work he has acquitted himself passably well. To the Otago people he appears to have given especial satisfaction, having promised lavishly in regard to that refuge for the unemployed in that province, the Central railway, and the new Minister is at present probably as popular in the southernmost portion of the colony as he is in his own Auckland constituency. Indeed, we notice that the Northern papers are beginning to express a doubt as to whether that part of New Zealand will benefit from Mr Mitchelson’s elevation to office quite as much as was expected. They appear to think that the Middle Island is getting a little too much attention, and that by the time the tour was completed so many pledges will have been made that no money will be left to be expended elsewhere. Be that as it may, Mr Mitchelson has undoubtedly been earning his money during the past few weeks, for the numberless deputations have kept him busy early and late in listening to their grievances, and framing answers which would send them happy away, and yet not commit the Government to anything. The art to do the latter is too difficult to be easily acquired, but, as we have hinted, the new Minister is an apt pupil and will no doubt gain proficiency ere long. Ashburton has had its share in the present deputation mania, and on Saturday last the brief stay of the Minister for Public Works was taken advantagejof to interview him on the two burning questions, the Mount Someis railway extension and the borough railway sites. In neither instance can it be said that much was gained, for little more than the stereotyped answer, to the effect that the Government would give the matters in dispute their earnest consideration, was vouchsafed. The large attendance of settlers from the hills was, as Mr Walker pointed out, due to a report which had been circulated, that the Minister intended to decide the route himself, and thus supersede the promised Royal Commission. Butforthisfalseintelligence having been disseminated, the Mount Somers people might have saved themselves the trouble of a journey from which they gained absolutely nothing. As we pointed out some time ago such an observation was simply impossible, and Mr Mitchelson’s remarks on that head show the correctness of our surmise. So far from him stating that he did not intend to allow himself to be bound by the pledges of his predecessor in office, the Minister for Public Works did not even Know that a Royal Commission had been promised when the words put into his mouth by interested per- 1 sons were alleged to have been spoken. 1 From this it will be seen how much 1 reliance can be placed on the “ distinct ' recollection ” of Mr Ivess and the memory of his corroborating witness, ' Mr Peache, The result of the inter- j view was to leave the matter exactly 1

in the same position as before, and if it had not been for one tiling Saturday’s proceedings would simply have been a waste of time. We need scarcely say that we refer to the refutation from Mr Mitchelson’s own lips of the accusation brought against Mr E. G. Wright, that he was trying by underhand means to influence the mind of the Minister for Public Works. The member for Wakanui must have experienced a very evil five minutes as he listened to what was said in connection with this, and we can only reiterate a hope often expressed before that he will benefit from this bitter experience, and travel in less devious paths for the future. The railway sites deputation not only met with no more success than did the Mount Somers railway advocates, but it is questionable whether their position is quite sc strong as it was before. The work of clearing the sites has commenced, and if nothing more had been said the whole of the buildings would have been removed, as it is impossible to conceive that the Department would have made fish of one tenant and fowl of another. Now, however, Mr Mitcmelson seems to be possessed with a lurking doubt as to whether the order for removal should have been given, his argument being that Ashcurton is not in a peculiar position, and the same demand might be made by other places. This, however, the Minister said, would mean a diminution in the revenue, and would have to be carefully considered. Our own opinion is that the Government should not compete unfairly with private freeholders, and it certainly appears that this is being done in the present instance. Sooner or later the sites will no doubt be cleared, but it is an open question whether the deputation of Saturday has not delayed rather than hastened the event.