Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APEIL 80, 1896. Mr Wilson at Foxton.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APEIL 80, 1896. Mr Wilson at Foxton.

* Those who listened to Mr Wilson's speech on Friday night were able to compare the style of speaking of political opponents, by a gentleman, and the many speeches delivered by Ministerialists. A gentleman's speech may lack warmth as well as strong phrases, but it need not, nor did Mr Wilson's, lack power and trenchant criticism. The Ministerialists are hard to convince when spoken to quietly, they are so used to their leaders using bluff and bluster that a quiet assertion is to them tame and without point. Such is the disadvantage of accustoming the public to so much noise and thunder. The references made by Mr Wilson to MiDi?ter3 were true and not bitter, for do we not know better than any, that the Premier will not do any thing for the settlers represented by

an Oppositionist ? Did Mr Wilson not acknowledge that Mr McKenzie behaved differently ? and instead of denouncing the Premier in tbe good old Ministerial stylo oi abuse, he simply saicl such conduct was unsatisfactory and led members to think whether an elective Ekpcutive might not be better, in this district wo p'ia]! ))c. !nc!infd to'agveo with Mr Wilson that a trial at atijifate could not possibly harm us. The review of the proposed Local Government Bill was a very able one and shows that Mr Wilsons experience in the working of County matters has been of value to him. The rates we have to pay now are hetvy enough, but we hnve the melancholy satisfaction of » rowing we placed them upon ourselves, but the Bill proposes many and heavier rates and purposes permitting those who do not have to pay the ratea to impose them on those who do. We are glad Mr Wilson has waded through this most formidable Pill and has arrived at the Conclusion he has. In speaking on the Bank of New Zealand bnsipinoss, the best of which is bad, Mr Wilson id a very gentle way expressed his disapprobation by saying he did not Vote in favour of the proposals. fie was most severe when he mentioned that the fact that the Assets Combany was part arid par*Jgl of the Bank of New Zealand was not known until the Colony had advanced the first two millions and then only became known by a statement made in London 1 The question is did the Government know or did it not ? The answer anyway must condemn them as did they know Parliament was never told of it. It is unpleasant to learn that Mr Wilson holds the Colonial Treasurer responsible for this fiank business and had it not been for him we should not have this heavy burden upon our. shoulders. There is likewise a suggestion of something that is not all as it should be in the statement that Mr Wilson declined to discuss or conjecture the reasons which prompted Mr Ward to advise his colleagues to assist the Bank of New Zealand, but, he said, they may be known publicly some day. The pleasure of the speech was spoilt by the. suggestion that possibly Mr Wilson might not again be our representative, not because he might be defeated, a most improbable result, but because circumstances might prevent his becoming a candidate. Men of all shades would regret should Mr Wilson be unable to devote further time to politics and we will brush such a supposition aside as one not lightly to be anticipated.