The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1888. WANTED A LEADER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1771, 20 February 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1888. WANTED A LEADER.

A few sessions ago the hoardings of the Empire City were scribbled over with the words " Wanted a Policy," and it would seem that the legend will have soon to be replaced by the words " Wanted a Leader." The Government side has one for the time being m Sir Harry Atkinson, bufc if the rumor be true that he is likely to be Sir John Hairs successor m tho Agency- General the time is not far distant when the Government party will need to cast about for some one whom they can agree to follow. But it may be supposed that Her Majesty's Opposition are m still worse case, and that with Sir Robert Stout relegated to private life and Sir J. Yogel m England they will next session be pretty much like sheep without a shepherd. That is one view of the case, no doubt, but wa fancy that it will not prove to be quite a correct one, for though it may bo difficult to predicate how matters will eventuate we are of opinion that the temporary absence of Hr Julius, removing as it will the stumbling block that the removal of an Atkinson Government necessarily implied another Vogelian administration, will admit of members ranging themselves according to their political principles, and the result may not improbably be that Ministers will be confronted by a much more united and powerful Opposition. If this should prove to be the case, the Party will not bo long m finding a Leader. Who that leader may be it is impossible to foresee. It might very well be Mr Ballance if ho will consent to keep his land nationalisation ideas m abeyance, for on most other points his views are 60u&4 and practical, while his abilities are unquestioned. One thing is certain and that is that every effort must be put forth to i secure two things next session, namely that tlio adnimstr#(,ion of the lands shall bo such as will pjroi&oto the cause of settlement, and that a policy o£ encouraging and developing local industries and manufactures shall bo given effect to. If that implies, as perhaps it does, the necessity of a change of Government, the Opposition must accept that responsibility and, no doubt, jjrill be prepared to do so. Meantime we do I not by any means regard the position as a less favorable one than that of last aeßflion— rather the reverse.