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Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 114, 16 January 1872, Page 4

A couple of faithful adherents and supporters of the General Government, Mr Thomas Birch and Mr James Seaton, are about to reap the reward of their political servility. These gentlemen went home by the last San Francisco mail-steamer bearing credentials to the Agent-General of the Colony, Dr Featherston, —the same mail no doubt carrying letters of recommendation to the latter gentleman to employ Messrs Birch and Seaton in the capacity of perambulating immigration lecturers. We quite agree with our Dunedin morning contemporary in its remarks on the appointment of Mr Birch ; for an appointment it undoubtedly is, notwithstanding that the Uvening Star says it rests entirely with Dr Featherston whether he avails himself of the services of the Government nominees or not. It is only reasonable to suppose that the Agent-General will act up to the wishes of his Government, and avail himself of the services of those who come to him from the Colony fortified with the favour and bearing the credentials of the Executive. Mr Birch, however good as a citizen he may have been, possesses neither the education nor the ability necessary in a gentleman whose business it is to address large audiences in support of the advantages Otago presents as a fiild for colonization : and the same remarks apply, in even a stronger degree, to Mr Seaton. The selection of these gentlemen as immigration lecturers is in itself almost sufficient to warrant us in saying that the end aimed at by the Government will be entirely defeated ; and certainly quite sufficient to justify the assertion that the appointments have not been made in the public interest, but simply as a quid pro quo for the thiek-and-thin support given to the Government and their friends. There are plenty of men in the Colony well fitted by education and colonial experience for the offices in question ; and in the face of this fact, and of thn unfitness of Messrs Birch and Seaton, the only conclusion is that their appointment is a piece of gross favouritism shown to unqualified men simply because they were Government supporters. ■ II I ■ —.Wilill. ■&