Mr Macarthur on his relation with the Government.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 20 November 1890, Page 2

Mr Macarthur on his relation with the Government.

fjLast Fri.Jay Mr JMacar^hur addressed.the electors at Feilding, and T frmn tfre Stars' report we extract that portion relating to the position ? he' tkkes towards the Government, ftich seems to be about the most pjlily expressed by any of his JJftfEjj^ He said : —His own position Sft^rreceed ing from the Government tialrtyj><?causft of the Protective Tariff 'ai&not prevent him voting with them tf^igreat subjects. He believed by so doing he bad represented public opinion in the Manawatu, because he was convinced whatever mistakes the? Atkinson Ministry might make, '^ndeven the best governments were C&Meto error as well as everybody itß&»thev were far better -than the >Stout-Vogel ? Government. / In' speak ing of the future he said f that owing 'to a pledge which had been exacted from the other Ministers, during the absence of Sic Harry Atkinson from the House, owing to bis ill health, to the effect that in the event of the present Ministry not securing a majority at the coming, elections, Parliament would be caljed together in April. Had Sir Harry Atkinson been in his place in the House at the time, this promise would not have been made, because it would necessitate a second session during the year, to which he wa3 opposed. Mr Macarthnr played a splendid tribute to the may admirable qualities of Sir Harry Atkinson, and said he would support his Government until the reconstruction of the Ministry which was inevitab'e owing to the delicate state of Sir Harry's health which would compel bis retirement from politics for a time uutil it was restored. It was admitted on all sides by all men whether on good or bad terms with Sir Harry, that during the thirty years h'* had bean in political life, ;hia whole career had been an unselfish one. Be had spnnt the best years of his life in the service of the country, and he was a poor man to-day.- Had he-devoteod his splendid intellect to mercantile or othor mangy-ma kin;; pursuits he would have been a wealthy man instead of a poor one. He deserved the gratitude. of every elector in the colony. Although he did not always agree with him yet he had never met a man whom he held in higher esteem .