Hostile Criticism.

Patea Mail, 31 March 1881, Page 3

Hostile Criticism.

The Lyttelton Times , commenting on Major Atkinson’s speech at Patea says : The Treasurer’s statement that he found a deficit of £900,000 on his taking office, is a pure fabrication. It was not the onlyfabrication in bis Patea speech. He told his hearers, that his Government on assuming the reins of office found that the Natives hod been rather badly “ stirred up ” by his predecessors. Now the stirring up of the Natives, as knows, was due to the chronic character of their grievances. Sir George Grey 7 ’s Government, apart from their share of the blame which attaches to all Governments of the last fifteen years, was in no way responsible for it. Further, the Treasurer claimed credit for savings which were really forced upon him by the House, which is a third fabrication. These it considers of no importance to anybody, and says : —“ What is of consequence is the confession which the Colonial Treasurer made of his views in referenc to the Native question in the Taranaki country. He ‘ confessed lie shared in the general feeling of impatience that a few Natives should have disturbed the district so long.’ The man who burns the air with these shameless words is totally 7 unfit to be a Minister of the Crown.” After a lengthy statement of extremely southern views on the Native question and Native treatment our contemporary 7 continues : The Commission enquired, and told the truth, laying the blame pretty evenly on the sy’stem that bad prevailed for 15 years. The public was horrified at the injustice disclosed, and justice to the Native became the leading public opinion. Y r et we have a Minister of the Crown who dares to avow his “ impatience that a few Natives should have disturbed the district so long.” This impatient gentleman is quite unfit to hold office as a Minister. He shared Mr Bryce’s views, but Mr Bryce being? an hanotirahle in an, look the first opportunity 7 of retiring from a Cabinet witli which he is not in harmony 7 . But here the Major’s impatience did not break out with the same force. His affection for office is the ruling passion. He is too experienced a bird to be caught with the chaff of principles. A thousand Bry’ccs may go, but he remains to cany out his own particular ideas. Ho has now declared for the Commissioners’ report, the whole report, and nothing but the report.”