The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 30, 1886. Wanted A Leader.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 47, 30 September 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 30, 1886. Wanted A Leader.

t - -+ • In an article published on the 25th ' inst., the Christchurch Press explains its position as regards Sir Robert 1 Stout and Major Atkinson. Eeplys ing to "An Elector" who charged the editor with his v change of front" } the article ways "He (Elector) seems ; to think that any body who takes any ■ interest in politics must either be a ' supporter of the principles of the pre- ' sent Government, or of those professed by the party of Major Atkinson. This we entirely deny; for the very f good reason that neither of these par- . ties appear to have any priiVples whatever. In New Zealand politics s there are no party lines, except those i of the ins and outs. The only real » division line is that which separates r the people who have the spoils of office • from those who want to get them. [ This may be satisfactory to a few , politicians who judge of political quesl tions according as their decision affects their prospects of office. But such i methods do nor suit us. We judge pub- • lie men by the standard of whether their actions are beneficial to the public or ■ not. Sir Robert Stout has hitherto, like the barren fig tree, produced nothing but leaves. But we have ' hopes there is just a possibility he is going to do better in the future, and it is because of this hope we have , endeavoured to encourage him. It is no part of our plan to attack Major 1 Atkinson. He has done good service to the public in various ways but he has much also for which he needs forgiveness as much as Sir Robert j Stout. But the main difference beI tween him and Sir Robert Stout is that at present there are no signs that he would really make any self- • sacrificing attempt to curtail our enormous expenditure and diminish • our burdensome taxation. Sir Robert Stout has, on the other hand, shown by his recent speeches he is aware of I the financial dangers which surround us, and has come to believe that great [ financial reforms are necessary. ' Whether he will get farther on the ' road to political perfection than is got by largly talking about it we cannot tell." The article is conclusive enough no doubt to the writer, but we hold its weak point is that sees possible perfection in " a-barren fig tree" like Sir Robert Stout, and irreclaimable wickedness in Major Atkinson, who is admitted to Have " done the state some service." Our contemporary will have to make another effort.