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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5767, 23 September 1879, Page 2

Thb staunchest Government organ in the South Island is probably the “ Lyttelton “Times.” It is but a few months since a mast flattering sketch of the Hon. Mr. Hall’s political career appeared in that journal. At that time he did not occupy the position which is now generally accorded to him as leader of the new Constitutional party; nevertheless ho was known as a severe critic of the Government, and consequently we were somewhat surprised to see in a recognised Government organ so flattering a sketch ak ; the’ one which wo reprint elsewhere. Mr. : ‘‘Hall’s best friends would net wish fora moro j fayorable notice of him. If this is the sort of criticism used by his political opponents about Mr. Hall, his allies may be excused for passing very high encomiums upon him. We cut out the extract at the time it appeared, because a rumor had already reached us, from a well - informed source, that either Mr. Hall or Mr. Whitaker would probably be chosen as leader of the Opposition, in the event of any change taking place in the Ministry. Mr. Hall’s seat in the Upper House was the only drawback. Since then the Constitutional parly has been formed ; Sir Wm. Fox led the newly organised party on to a glorious victory in the Lower House, but since then he has been unseated at Wanganui. Mr. Whitaker was asked, but refused to take a leading part in the fray. On the other hand, Mr. Hall has since been elected for the Lower House as a member for Selwyn. At this moment we believe that he commands a far larger following than any other politician in Now Zealand, not excepting Sir G. Grey. We have no doubt of the ultimate success of the party which has Mr. Hall for its leader. A better general could not be found. Ho combines a happy faculty of expressing strong ‘political convictions in clear language, but without any appearance of personal spite or malice. It would be undesirable to attempt to rival such * a.- graphic sketch as that from the “ Lyttelton Times,” which we reprint in another column. The anonymous writer betrays an intimate and accurate knowledge of Mr. Hall’s career ; the biographical portrait is but a p.en and ink outline, but it. is drawn with a firm and masterly hand. Both in tone, ■ style, and finish it leaves but little to bo desired, and we heartily commend it to the notice of our readers. There is, however, one side of Mr. Hall’s character, which, in our opinion, deserves a little more notice than it has received at the hands of the author to whose pen we are indebted for the article. Mr. Hall has been no less than fire times a Minister of the Crown, and yet he has hardly made a single bitter political enemy. He has sat in Opposition Ministries, but although his aid has been

solicited and accepted as an accession of strength by former opponents, he has retained his reputation for political consistency unblemished. Few men can so regulate their conduct as to retain, their freedom to act and speak with vigor and conciseness, without giving personal offence, and without embittering their relations with their follows. No man could accomplish it who had not excellent judgment, a charitable spirit, and supreme tact. Wo believe that dir. Hall’s present position is largely due to the unusual share of these qualities which he possesses. But very few public men can escape from having unworthy motives ascribed to them as the mainspring of their actions, but so far as we know, Mr. Hall’s conduct as a public man has been almost above suspicion ; he is lucky in this respect, and beholden to the blind goddess for the immunity from calumny which he enjoys. It is true that in his last stumping tour Sir G. Grey accused Mr. Hall of making use of his seat in the Legislative Council as a convenience. But Mr. Hall refuted the charge fully. The general public would be quite unable to recognise any political immorality in an action which, in effect, was only resigning a certainty of legislating in one Chamber for a chance of again doing so in the other, with a possibility of losing both. Even Sir G. Grbv, though certain of election for the Thames, knew better than to attempt to oppose Mr. Hall at Selwyn. If Mr. Hall’s resignation was the worst misdeed with which he can bo taxed, the indictment would not seriously damage his political reputation, even if he were to plead guilty to the charge. Sir G. Grey has for years been trying to lower the dignity of the Upper House. If he should at last succeed in degrading it in the eyes of the country until the best public men decline to take part in its debates any longer, Sir George, if consistent, would then be bound to rejoice over the success of his long-continued efforts to debase the Legislative Council, and to increase and magnify the power and importance of of the Lower House at the expense of the Upper.