MR STOUT'S CONTEMPLATED RETIREMENT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1664, 20 June 1879, Page 2

MR STOUT'S CONTEMPLATED RETIREMENT.

0 DUNEDIN, June 19. By appointment a deputation of citizens waited on the Attorney-G-enoral at the Ministerial offices, this afternoon, to urge on him the desirability of re-considering his determination to resign his seat in the Assembly. Mr Stout said in reply—l can assure you that I feel very much that a deputation should wait on me on this subject. The position is this —When I first went into politics in 1875 I did so in breach of my articles with my partner, but with his consent. In 1877 I had actually written out my resignation, and intended to retire, but at the urgent solicitation of some of my friends to whom I spoke on the subject, and at the suggestion of my colleagues for the city, Messrs Macandrew and Larnach, I withdrew it for a time. But of course my business is increasing so much that my partner is unable to overtake the duties. I feci that it is casting too much of the burden on him, contrary to the spirit of the arrangement which I entered into with him, and that I could hardly ask him further to relieve me from my engagements with him. That is the eole reason of my resignation. I do resign, T may say that I do so with reluctance, and after a good deal of thought on various grounds. The first is that it is known through the Press that the Ministry arc likely to be attacked, and one does not like to leave friei d l when he knows that they are threatened by attack. At the same time I feel this, that if the new Electoral Bill is passed, there ought to be a dissolution after the next session of the Assembly, and if I went up for this session I would be bound in honor to goto the country at the close of the eessioH, and boviud in honor to contest the election, and so to enter into the very thick of the fight. Thus it seems to mo I should be prevented from going out of politics for ssm» time to come. I may say, also ; that my remaining here for the last two years was a breach of my promise to to my friends at home to visit them, which breacli has annoyed me very much. I may say that I have now ready, in fact thay are in print, many of the Bills which will ba brought forward by the G-overnment ihia- session. Were it only pecuniary matter that were concerned, I would not grudge to- maie considerable sacrifices in that resptat. But there are my duty to my partner a»d otb»? engagenot of a pecuniary characiar. I believe 1 shall be able to give you a definite reply on Monday. I have been in communication with my oolleagues on the subject, and am awaiting some communications fiom them. Of course. I feel the deputation very much, because I see here some gentlemen whom I know ta have differed with me in public opinion, and I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to them for calling on me to-day. I will reconsider the matter, and on Monday will be able tO give you a definite reply. The deputation then withdrew*