The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883. The Colonial Treasurer.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 111, 2 June 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883. The Colonial Treasurer.

Major Atkivson, in his address to his constituents at Hawera on Friday last, said that " speaking as a man of Parliamentary experience he declared the present Parliament was quite up to the average of Parliaments, both intellectually and morally, and although there was a marked absence of leading men — men who could command the support of large numbers — he did not believe the circumstance was attributable to t ; e change in the electoral law, but was simply accidental, most of the experienced men having been defeated by very few votes." With this view of the Major's we entirely differ, and cannot recognise anv accident as being the factor in the defeat of would -be perpetual legislators. We believe that in each case where the old and experienced members of the House — whose absence is 60 jruch regretted by Major Atkinson — have been rejected by the electors, has resulted fn-m a feeling that is rapidly gaining ground among them that very experieuced members are not always the best to represent a constituency, notwithstanding "their knowledge of the forms of the House being a great assistance to the busi ness." It has been found that a perfect knowledge of the rules of Parliament can be used to retard busines*, to the disgust of Ministers and loss to the country. To quote Major Atkinson : " Business was delayed, not unskillful ly but very unjustifiably, because the Opposition had no right to delay the business of the country, unless justified by success in turning the Government out. ' Another belief spreading among electors is that party Government is entirely unnecessary in this Colony, and such belief is not unjustifiable when we see that the business of governing the State can be carried on without it, as has been the case since the present Ministry bus occupied the Treasury Benches, because virtually there is no ** other party," but merely the shreds of a divided Opposition that is no doubt useful in supplying '* a form" necessary for the business of the House, but for all really practical purposes, is useless. The country has "a measure of faith'' in the present Ministry because they have honestly endeavored to administer affairs in a business-like manner on the lines of a prudent directorate Let the confidence the people have in them be destroyed, and they must va cate their positions, but not till then." It is pleasant to read the high en comiums passed on the other members of the Ministry and the manly tribute he pays to the Hon. John Bryck, who by his firmness, self-reliance, and courage would soon bring about a state of things earnestly desired by both the natives and the colonists. In speaking of the main truuk line he said that three parties were out examining the several proposed routes, but as he did not mention the locality of any of them we have nothing to say at present ou th;.t point. At tbe conclusion of his address, in reply to questions he stated that he did not think the Government would attempt this session to introduce any Bill to reform the constitution of the Legislative Council. He defended rhe two recent appointments to the Council, and held that whenever the Go verr.ment considered it necessary to reform the Council it would probably have to call many more gentlemen to the Upper House. Whether this reply may be considered as a menace or not it it impossible for us to say, but there is this fact to be kept "steadily in view" bv th«* tax - payers, that * ■ i every *' gentleman " that is called to i th« Upper House is a charge upon the j country of* £{&0 per annum until

death, the great level h-r, removes him. If these gentlemen were elevated for distinguished public services or from great natural ability, one could understand it, but this has not always been the case, especially within the last few years. When a Government proposes to reform the Council hy an influx of new members that dav will decide its fate for ever and result in an Elective Chamber, which it should have been from the beginning.