The correspondence which has passed between his Honor the Superintendent and Mr Donald Reid, in reference to the latter’s ceasing to be a member of the Provincial Executive, has been printed and forwarded to members of the Provincial Council. A copy came into our hands late this afternoon, and we give it in its entirety in another column. We have previously expressed our opinion as to the course taken by the Superintendent in the matter; nor does a pet usal of the correspondence to which it gave rise in any way lead us to modify that opinion. But apart from any opinion that may be formed on the main question, it will lie abundantly evident to every candid mind that Mr Reid greatly erred in not including a large portion of the matter expressed in his letter of October 12 in the one dated September 17. The case stands simply thus: The Superintendent writes Mr Keid and expresses his opinion that under the circumstances then existing it would be unseemly and impolitic for him (Mr Reid) to remain a member of the Executive. To which Mr Reid simply replies in effect—- “ That’s my business ; I am responsible to the Provincial Council only.” The circumstances having entirely changed, the Superintendent again writes Mr Reid, asking him to resume his former place in the Executive, and in reply M r Reid now, for the first time, narrates a whole host of things—all doubtless plausible enough in themselves—which he had intended to dp had his position in the Executive remained undisturbed. All we can say is, that if Mr Reid at the time (September 17) really intended to do all he says on October 12—and we are extremely reluctant to doubt it—then it is matter of much regret that he did not say so, which might possibly havefprevented all subsequent qnplpasapt complications. Had lie said honestly, “1 intend fo resign at the conclusion of the session; we perform no executive elution hero j I wish simply to conclude certain negooiatious now pending, which I have myself conducted so far, and having done so I will at once place my resignation in your Honor’s hands,” the whole aspect of the question would have been very different; but, instead of doing so, he writes such a letter as that which appears under date Sept. 16, and upon the course taken in this respect, the whole responsibility of what )ms since occurred, and may yet occur, must pest.
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Evening Star, Issue 3039, 14 November 1872, Page 2
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412Untitled Evening Star, Issue 3039, 14 November 1872, Page 2
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