NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1972, 17 October 1888, Page 3

NOTES.

Though Mr Walker would doubtless have preferred to have a crowded audience on Friday evening — for it is infinitely easier to address a full house than a sparse one — he may safely " lay the flattering unction to his soul" that only a few of his constituents attended his meeting, because the constituency generally are thoroughly well satisfied with his conduct as their representative. Even his political opponents admit his industry and his through honesty of purpose, and the seconder of the vote of confidence spoke the mind of hundreds of electors when he said that '• although he did not agree m Mr Walker's viewp, nor m his criticisms of the present Government, his (Mr Walker's) zeal m local matters, and his steady support of measures which were for the good of the colony at large, fully entitled him to .the confidence of the constituency. The member for Ashburton has no personal enemies, and even those who differ from him m political views are content that he should continue to be the representative of the district m Parliament — m this instance accepting the doctrine of 'men not measures.' " Happy member for Ashburton ! m his case the phrase " his name is Walker" bears not the usual slang interpretation, but points rather to the probability of a walk- over for the next electoral stakes.

Our Christchurch contemporaries have, as was to be expected, come out with leaders upon Mr Walker's speech, and, equally of course, the Opposition organ pats him on the back, .while the Government organ treats him to a- little mild criticism and depreciation. The focmer justly compliments him upon his moderation of tone and on his defence of the Opposition, while the latter professes to think that Mr Walker's statement that there were last session individual members who were guilty of obstruction, is an admission that the Opposition were reponsible as, says the " Press," those members were members of the Opposition. Not quite so fast Cashel street. There were members of the Opposition who, on occasion, were obstructive, and so also were there members of the Government party, and even of the Government itself ; and most certainly both the Ministry and their supporters live under such uncommonly thin glass that they can ill afford to throw stones. As to the insinuation that the Opposition continued leaderlessonly because of the difficulty of oh oosing between numerous rival claimants for the leadership, the "Press" is either wilfully blind or exceedingly ill-informed, for so far from there being too many aspirants for the position, there was absolutely not one, the Opposition, by common consent, agreeing last session to work under an Executive Committee.

Cashel street does not like that part of Mr Walker's speech m which he took credit for the Stout- Vogel Government having initiated the policy of retrenchment, and of protection to. local industries, but, like it orjnot, the fact remains

that'the work of retrenchment, was begun before the present Government took office and that Sir Harry Atkinson has adopted the proposals of his predecessors m all their main features, but has carried them farther than they proposed. The Stout- Vogel Government were turned out because they were credited with a decire to borrow, because they advocated protection, and because they asked for additional taxation. And what has happened-? Sir Harry has brought down and carried a tariff still more protective, he has borrowed more money and has imposed more taxation — m a word, he has stolen and worn the garments of his predecessors. It is as Mr Walker said " One man may steal a hopse while another may not oven look over the hedge."