The Globe. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 417, 13 October 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1875.

Major Atkinson and his colleagues are certainly the most loyal supporters of their absent chief. ])oes the Treasurer intend to try and make the public of New Zealand believe that Sir Julius Vogel omitted to tell the House of the instructions which had been given to Mr Russell, in consequence of the press of business ? If he does, he must imagine that the public are more credulous than we believe them to be. Major Atkinson was compelled to acknowledge that the withholding of the information was a mistake, and there can be but little doubt that the majority of the electors in New Zealand will agree with him. The San Francisco service, has never, as yet, been a real success. Tt is notably one of Sir Julius Vogel's pet schemes, and we cannot think for one instant, that this important matter had escaped his memory on the day of the prorogation. The instructions, however, which were given to Mr Thomas Eussell were not complied with, and the limit of £40,000, which he was entitled to offer for a certain service, was overstepped, and the conditions of the service were altered. The argument that if the proposed service is worth £40,000 per annum it is worth £45,000 is absurd. According to such an argument it would be easy to keepon adding £SOOO a year to the sum voted. Sir Dillon Bell, in his speech, said that Sir Julius Vogel had acted as he thought was best for the colony. This may be eo, but we incline to the opinion that in Sir Julius' anxiety to see this pet hobby of his owd, the San Francisco service, carried out, he would have thought very little of committing the colony to any contract which would have the effect he wished for. That he would be bound by any expression of opinion from the House of Representatives no one can suppose. He was quite certain that any contract he might enter into would be agreed to by the House, as he had faithful lieutenants and a large majority. But even with the majority to back them up, Ministers were compelled to make some show of independence, and while they intend to Tatify the contract under discussion, they made a great fuss over the fact that they bad left out the expression

of approval which appeared in the resolution submitted by the Commissioner of Customs. We presume that Ministers though it rather too much to expect that the members of the House should be called on to approve of a direct violation of instructions. Sir Julius is not the servant of the colony, as represented by the present House, but its master. He may not be in the same position after the next general election, but meanwhile he pursues his course undisturbed by any idea of referring to his colleagues for advice or instructions. It may be said that Mr Thomas Kussell appears to act equally independently with Sir Julius, and perhaps the latter, if he acknowledges no master in the House of Representatives, may have found one outside. We have been hearing a good deal about " pressure" lately; it is to be desired that some pressure may be brought to bear upon Sir Julius, and any well known colonist who may be selected to represent New Zealand, on the occasion of entering into a joint contract, which will induce these gentlemen to keep within the limit of their instructions.