The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1882.

Temuka Leader, Issue 938, 15 April 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1882.

When the Maori King was in Auckland sometime ago, and feasted in royal style by the Mayor and other prominent citizens, we offer 1 an opinion that it would lead to bringing both races into closer relationship. Many other papers differed from our view, and twisted and turned some figurative utterances of the King into words of dire import. They also stated that there was very little hope of the King being reconciled unto friendship with Europeans, but events have since shown that the view we took of the matter was the right one, The King has since given many assurances of his desire for closer a !l iance with the Government, and has signified his intention of inviting Ministers as well as other Europeans, to the Native meeting which is intended to be held. Another item of news recently to hand states that Heterv to Parnta a very influential Taupo chief has arranged to survey a large block of land in the King Country for the purpose of leasing it to Europeans. He states that an agreement exists between Government and Tawhiao whereby all sales are prohibited, while leasing only is to take place through the Government. This is very satisfactory news. The King Country is rich in mineral wealth, as well as spendid land for agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and its opening up will result in much benefit to the colony.

A telegram states that Mr Ballance has made up his mind to contest the Stanmorc electorate. At the present moment it is very important that Mr Ballance should occupy a seat in the House, and we sincerely trust that he will be elected. If a new Ministry is to be formed from the side of the House to which Mr Ballance has so consistently adhered, he would be one of them without a doubt, as there is no more able man in the ranks of the Opposition. We sincerely trust we shall hear of his election, for his absence from the House now would certainly be a groat loss to the colony. He has been in Parliament about seven sessions now, representing first the district of Bangitikei, rud subsequently Wanganui. Ho

w as beaten at Wanganui at the time of the last election by Mv Watt, a rich merchant, who has occupied the position of Mayor of the ton a for several years. His defeat, however, was the result of an accident. A party of seven electors were coming into town to vote for Hm, but the trap which conveyed them broke down, and they did not reach town in time to record their voles. Mr Watt won the election by a majority of three, but if these had arrived in time, Mr Ballance would have been elected. Mr Ballanco since petitioned against the election of Mr Watt, on the ground that he had recourse to bribery and corrupt practices during the election, but lost the case. He. is now going to stand tor Stanmore, for which Mr Pilliet was elected last election, but subsequently unseated on the petition of Mr Cowlishaw, and we should be very glad indeed to see him returned at the head of the poll,

In cur last issue, we offered an opinion that the cause of the Ministerial resignation was internal dissensions amongst themselves. We now find that since then several other journals have come to the same conclusion, although strenuous efforts have been made by the Ministerial organs to deny it. They attribute the whole difficulty to the Premier’s health having failed, and try to explain away the fact that most of the Ministers had sent in their resignation a day before the Premier., Now, what was needed plainer than this to show that it was the way Ministers saw they had no chance of being able to carry on the Government of the country together, and resigned in consequence. Some papers hint that Mr Hall was only shamming illness, but that is a very inhuman conclusion to come to. A more reasonable way to look at it is that he was wearied into sickness by the disagreements between his colleagues. Some of the Ministers are apparently strongminded, or more appropriately speaking, strongheaded parties, who must have their own way in everything, Mr Bryce, for instance, who resigned because he would not be allowed his own way with regard to Native matters. It must have been difficult for the Premier who is a man of a good deal of tact and administrative capability, to keep them together so long. How they could agree is most extraordinary. Messrs Rolleston and Bryce were radical enough once, and held very liberal views on the land question, while Mr Whitaker is admittedly one of the greatest landsharks in the country, and Mr Hall himself a gridironer of the first water. It is no wonder there were differences of opinion in a Cabinet so constituted, and that the result lias I m a collapse. There can be no doubt now that it was not the Premier’s illness, but differences of opinion brought about the present political crisis. If only the illness of the Premier stood in the way it could have been easily managed. He could have been relieved of his official duties, and still remain Premier, and there would not have been any necessity for the resignation of any of them. This is the course that would have been followed undoubtedly, only that they could not got on together. Each individual member seems to have been in a great hurry to resign, as if he were tired of his position, the Premier being the last to give in. Wo do not believe the canard that the Governor refused toacceptjthe document containingthe Premier’s advice as to who he should send for, as it would be both uncourteous and unconstitutional to do so. The fact that the Governor wont direct to the Premier’s house after landing in Wellington, and had a long conversation with him seems to us to point out that this is untrue. Tag first report that no advice was given is more likely. We believe that the Premier was sick at heart at finding the barque of which ho was captain breaking into pieces, that he gave up all hope of reconstruction, and consequently sent in his resignation without

tendering any advice. This is the most likely thing, and not that the Governor declined the advice on the ground that as Ministers had resigned they were no longer his constitutional advisers. It is usual with Ministers when they resign to advise the Governor as to whom he should send for, and it is absurd to say they should not, as they remain Ministers until their successors are appointed. The canard has

been spread with the view of bringing odium on the Governor for sending for Sir George Grey, and while wc do not approve of the choice he has made, wc think it is not fair to him to be thus misrepresent'd. It will bo fund that a few days will explain all.