AN OUTSIDER ON ATKINSON AND STOUT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2573, 20 September 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN OUTSIDER ON ATKINSON AND STOUT.

Discussing the political situation on the eve of the Stout Ministry being sworn in the Sydney Telegraph said : “The Major] indeed, is sure to take office again. His twenty years’ record is one that any colonial statesman might be proud of. His courage has never failed him. He has faced the financial crisis of the Colony } v^}. the same fearlessness with which he led his Forest Rangers against the Maori rebels on the Taranaki coast before he dreamed of portfolios. There is no question in New Zealand as to his ability, and no breath of suspicion dulls his character. He will lead the Opposition in the new Parliament like a chivalrous Englishman. It is one of his peculiarities in the House that he never appeals to the Speaker for protection. He is not eloquent, but he nits straight and hard

i. i j dIIQ . narcl i and can always hold hts own. Sir Julius Vogel and Mr btout will find in him a foeman worthy of their steel; in fact, they will want all their steel to keep him temporarily out of power. Sir Julius Vogel has naturally elected to take the department of finance. V ogel after Atkinson is like a spendthrift after an economist. New Zealand is tired of economy. Nevertheless she has been carried through a most difficult period of her history by Atkinson’s persistent economy. But the South has been pressed for some time past, and has taken Vogel to her arms again, gave him a party, told him to borrow as much and as quickly as bo can, and claimed that a very large share of the millions shall be spent upon the wland which has placed him in power. But for his physical weakness, he would no doubt have acknowledged himself as Premier. The Premier of New Zealand must be an active man. Political life in

that colony is not centralised ; there is no metropolis like Sydney or Melbourne, and the head of the Government is expected to show himself a good deal in all the provincial centres, from Auckland and Dunedin. It is impossible for an invalid like Sir Jvhus Yogel to thus distribute himself. , ut his brain will dominate his colleagues. Mr Stout, the nominal Premier is unquestionably the strongest amongst the younger politicians of New Zealand lie is a very subtle debater, a lawyer of high standing, an honorable opponent, a lover of all culture, and—a very pronounced ‘ freethinker. ’ As a ‘freethinker’ lr Stout has never ‘stood behind a tree.’ He is more than frank, he is agresssiye. He openly fights with his side. iNever before has a man who is avowry hostile to the Churches held the office of Premier of one of these colonies. Ihe relations between him and the people will therefore be watched with much interest. One thing, however, is certain : Mr Stout is a man who would feel that he debased himself if he allowed his personal views in regard to religion to influence his public conduct.