APPOINTMENT TO THE “LORDS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3744, 29 January 1907, Page 3

APPOINTMENT TO THE “LORDS.”

The New Zfealaud Times, the Government organ, does not enthuse over the new ; “ batch’-of Legislative Councillors. The Times admits that there is not a .single : man amongst them that can be pronounced brilliant, but thinks them on the whole, “a very respectable selection.” “ Other things being equal,” Adds the “ Times ” “ it is of course, rtght, as the homely Scotch proverb has it “ to keep your ain fish guts for your am sea-maws,” but we confess that we should ourselves have more pride and satisfaction in belonging to a party with sufficient breadth and strength to recognise public merit to some extent, even in the camp of its oppononts. We cannot find any particularly marked indication of this generosity of spirit in the appointments just made by the present Government. A certain appointment which, as we have indicated in a previous article, we should have been glad to see the Government make, has not been made, if it has been- even in contemplation, and we cannot but think that in deciding, so to act the Government has, omitted what would have been not only a generous, but a politic thing to-do.” The reference here is, no doubt, tef the appointment of Sir Wm. Russell, but it is doubtful if Sir William R'Ussell would accept 'nomination in- Snub company, a company with regard .to- which the. Ministerial organ adds, “In the case of some of the gentlemen appointed we ask ourselves without receiving any very conclusive answer, what the public services have been which entitle them to this promotion.”.

Says'’ tice, Christchurch Truth ; “ The list ’'suggests at first sight the usual anxiety of Sir Joseph Ward to please everybody,' and at the . same time to give as full play as possible to party considerations. Otherwise it is difficult to explain the incompatible elements, represented by Mr J. B. Sinclair, Mr John Barr, : and Mr Hamilton Gilmer. The first of this trio has never exhibited' the slightest interest in politics, nor betrayed the possession of any particularly broad-minded qualities, while his public services have been confined to a little work in the interests of secondary education. In Mr Barr we have the antithesis of Mr Sinclair, but neither will ever be anything more than a political nonentity, whose presence in the Legislative Council is simply a perpetuation' of class distinctions, with nothing whatever to recommend it. Mr Pauiv who, along with Mr Barr, represents the sop thrown to Labour, is probably the brainiest man in the New Zealand Labour movement; and if class representatives , are inevitable, his selection is one of the redeeming features of the list. But it is hard to say what induced the Premier to include Mr Wiremu Pere.”