Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 25, 1 March 1884, Page 2

Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1884.

When it was announced some time ago that Major Atkinson would address his constituents and make them some explanation of his political conduct, a very languid interest was excited among the electors of Egmont. This may be the cause of the delay on the part of the Major, who would have preferred a warmer feeling of interest to have been exhibited. He must now have a strong suspicion that the electors of Egmont are getting tired of him, and are betraying symptoms of a desire for change in their representative. They have discovered, like the electors of Manawatu, that the fact of their member being a Minister of the Crown has its disadvantages, although in the case of Taranaki there has been no reason to complain of the absence of patronage liberally dispensed among the friends and relatives of the " ruling family " in that favored locality, while the Manawatu had never an opportunity of being grateful for the smallest favor. Another cause of uneasiness to the Major may be the knowledge that Sir John Hall will soon be on his way back to New Zealand, with renewed health and vigor, which will enable him to enter again into the political arena with tbe " freshness of youth " upon him. As to his getting a constituency to return him, there are no fears. Should the Major be returned for a Taranaki con.tituency — and of this there exists a reasonable doubt — he would certainly have to give place to Sir John, who is not the man to accept a subordinate position to one whom he considers his inferior — socially, intellectually, and politically — although the Major may have a different opinion. Another element of disturbance in Unpolitical atmosphere may be the announcement made by Sir Julius Yogel that he intends to sail for this Colony in a few days. Ostensibly he visits the scenes of his former victories, solely in connection witb the business of laying a duplicate electric cable with Europe. Possibly this may be actually the case, but at the same time the fears of Ministers may be easily excited when it is remembered how precarious their positions now are. Tbe presence of a mastermind like that of Sir Julius Yogel must always create a feeling of uneasiness in the souls of politicians who have proved themselves such unworthy successors to the great author and founder of the Public Works Scheme, which they have so sadly muddled, and from the lineß of which they have so far departed. The accession to tbe Opposition ranks made by tbe election of Mr E. Wakefield, for Selwyn, and tbe desertion of Mr Sutton, the member for Hawke's Bay, will reduce the Ministerial majority in the House considerably. The Manawatu seat is not yet vacant, and whether the present member will be allowed by his party to resign is a moot point under the present political aspect of affairs. It has been reported that Mr Johnston will resign in April, but we put no faith in the rumor (it is nothing else), for if the ex-Minister for Public Works had really intended to resign he would have been allowed to do so before this. The position of the Ministry is such that they cannot afford to lose or sacrifice a single vote, and Mr Johnston is too loyal to desert them in their time of need.