The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JAN. 26, 1886. Favorites of Fortune

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 97, 26 January 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JAN. 26, 1886. Favorites of Fortune

Mr W. J. Steward, M.H.R., who has just returned from a visit to Australia, writes to the AVaimate Times that there is not a word of truth in the statement that he was inherited a large sum of money. But still it was quite natural for his fellow journalists in the South Island to assume that he must have got a lot of money somewhere. It will be remembered Major Stewart was an enthusiastic supporter of the sale of certain District Railways to the Government, and it has been stated without contradiction that he received £1500 as a commission on the sale of the Eotorua Railway debentures. Sir Julius Yogel said anent this transaction: "Major Steward presented to mo an authority from the Rotorua Company to sell on their behalf their debentures. I was no party 10 his obtaining it. I had no reason to suppose the company were unaware with whom he proposed to negotiate, and I was glad to be able to negotiate, as the Government had determined to buy some debentures if they could be obtained at the prices offered for them. It was undesirable that debentures should be hawked about the colony and London, and the Government secured them at a very satisfactory price. If the Company had communicated with me direct, I should have been willing to gave the same price." In the matter of the negocia--1 tions for the sale of the Waimate 1 District Railway, it is also understood \ that Major Steward has been acting as an intermediary between the Government and the Railway Company, \ and, we may fairly presume, for a somewhat similar consideration. We do not suppose that so experienced a memb er of the House as Maj or Ste wa i:d would wilfully and " with malice aforethought,'' bring himseif within the operations of the Disqualification Act, 1878, clause 5, which says — 1 " Contractor means a person who either by himself or directly or indirectly by or with others, but not as a member of a joint stock company, or \ any incorporated body, is interested in i the execution or enjoyment of any contract or agreement with Her Majesty, or with any officer or department of the General Government, or with any person or persons for or on account of the public service of New , Zealand under which any public • money above the sum of £50 is payable directly or indirectly to any one • financial year." No doubt he has 1 been well advised in so important a \ matter, yet we are confident that ■ several members on both sides of the 1 House will, at the next meeting of { Parliament, ask to be enlightened i thoroughly as regards the facts of this 1 and the other case, i The Driver appointment to the Insurance Department is an act which \ has been pretty well condemned, so . far, by every newspaper in the colony, | while the policy holders have not been behind hand in expressing their disapproval. We observe that in Wan- ' ganui a movement is about to be made in support of similar action which has already been taken in other towns in the colony. The purchase of sites for new offices in some of the principal cities has also excited much adverse comment. Those of Dunedin and Christchurch — the latter especially being difficult to understand by mere outsiders. The locality thus favored is said to be away from the main business centre of Christchurch, being down a sidestreet, to reach which intending insurers must pass the more convenient and attractive offices of a Foreign Company. It is whispered that this purchase would not have been made unless certain influences, other than the mere value of the land, had been brought to bear on certain officials of the head of the Insurance Department. The price £10,000 is held to be excessive by many competent judges, and though this is a matter of opinion, suspicion will always attach in the minds of the public to a purchase of property made under the almost irresponsible authority of the Insurance Association, especially when such property is bought from a connection of a prominent political supporter of the chairman. The policy holders, who have to find the money to pour into the pockets of the " favorites of fortune" hare a right to exclaim against such a tax being thrust upon them. The upshot of the outcry now being raised against the use of this Department to reward political services ought to have some good result. We devoutly hope that I it will end in its "being withdrawn from i mere political coiitrol altogether. However, it is some consolation to know that the principals to those ( abuses are likoly to have a " bad quarter of an hour" shortly after rarliauxeut meets.