South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, FEB. 28, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2168, 28 February 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, FEB. 28, 1880.

Altiiouou Wclllington is called the seat of Govertment it is quite evident that for ministers at least it is not a bed of roses. In no other part of New Zealand is the art of popular pressure more diligently studied and practised. It is true that when members and Cabinet Ministers travel abroad they have their lives rendered as miserable as possible by persistent deputations ; and thejnumber of white falsehoods that they have to tell, and the evasive answers they have to give, is enough to shut out their hope of future salvation, if they have any. But in Wellington ministers have to face an ordeal which, outside of that city, is unknown. When deputations assail them

elsewhere they can bid the locality a fond adieu, and with a kiss of the hand, hum the “sweet bye and bye ” to their tormentors as the Hincraoa bears them to other scenes. But in Wellington they arc trapped —trapped as securely as the unemployed. They may give an evasive answer once or twice, but they cannot escape. (Recent events show that Wellington deputations will not take “no” for an answer. The professional deputationists of the Empire City have an implicit faith in the old saying, “perseverance overcomcth all difficulties.” They arc persistent and pertinacious. The Ministers are subjected periodically to the rack of public pressure until compliance, however reluctant it may come, is at length extorted. Some time ago we complimented the Premier and Minister of Public Works for their courage when they met an influential body of their tormentors at Wellington, with a statement that Wellington, in the matter of Public Works, had lately been the spoilt child of the Government. The Wellington Press at that time was very indignant. This was only natural. It was a hard hit, and they thought it very unkind to that part of Now Zealand, although it was just and charitable to the rest. But the affront has been parried with some show of indignation, and the professional deputation nuisance which llourishes at Wellington is again coming to the front.

The ingenuity displayed by these deputationists is as conspicuous as their perseverance is indomitable. After the rebuff they experienced a few weeks ago, it was no use going to the Government on the same ticket. They therefore resolved on a tortuous, in preference to a straightforward course, lust cad of applying for public works in a direct manner, the unemployed immigrants were impressed into the service. But unfortunately for Wellington, the scheme has been unsuccessful. The Government have granted relief, but not in a way congenial to the tastes of the Wellingtonian horseleeches. Instead of opening up works of local improvement in the city of deputations, they have dispersed the unemployed on the Waimatc Plains to pave the way for settlement. Foiled in this effort, a now dodge has been im'cntcd. A petition is in course of signature in Wellington calling on the Mayor to convene a meeting for the purpose of urging the necessity for pushing 011 the Wellington and Foxton radway. Of course the meeting will be held at once. It would be contrary to human nature if it didn’t. Ecsolutions will be passed unanimously, and a Formidable deputation of burly mendicants will be appointed to wait on the members of the Government' and do the necessary squeezing. Will the Government he able to say “No P” They may argue the matter, but they must look out for consequences. Influential deputations can only be refused at the peril of the ministry of the day. This is a serious consideration. Of course it is fortunate for Wellington and its vampires that ministers arc so accessible, but the Cabiuet torturers should show a little compassion. Ministers cannot he generous on every occasion to Wellington, and at the same time, just to the rest of the colony. The squeezing that is going on may be carried to a dangerous extreme, and if this kind of public pressure is carried to excess, it is possible that yet another and more successful effort will be made to change the scat of Government to a locality where ministsrs will be spared the mental torture which they arc undergoing at Wellington.