The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1883. THE NEW MINISTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1171, 8 November 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1883. THE NEW MINISTER.

" Who is Mr Mitchelson ?" is the question that every newspaper in New Zealand has been asking and trying to solve since that gentleman took office as Minister of Public Works about a week ago. All that any of them knew about him was that last election he was returned for Marsden, and that he has since occupied a seat in the House of Representatives, where he has distinguished himself by having opened his lips only once during the ■ whole of thotwo sessions. Of all tho obscure Members of the House, there was none so obscure as Mr Mitchelson, and consequently we are not surprised to find that his sudden elevation to the position of Minister of Public Works has amazed the whole colony. The papers hare been discussing the probable reason Ministers had for selecting him as a colleague, and all of course agreed that it was to give Auckland representation in the Cabinet. The Auckland Herald, whilst admitting that this was partly the reason, adds that " Mr Mitchelson served his time as an apprentice to a carpenter, and that con-, sequently he is fitted by his mechanical knowledge for the position of Minister ior Public Works." This appears to us to be, as Shakespeare says, " the most unkindest cut of all." The Herald could not be in earnest in asserting that the little knowledge he acquired of carpentry in his youth could be of any service to him in administering the affairs of the Public Works Department. It was meant to ridicule the idea of appointing so incompetent a man, and a very mean way of giving him " a nasty dig" it was. It was no fault of his own if he commenced life in an humble sphere., The fact that he did so, and that by industry, and business abilities lie has risen to a position of importance redounds to his credit, and it was the very essence of meanness of the Auckland Herald to throw it in his face, at the moment that he was jumping inte prominence. Mr -Mitchelson may be a good man or he may be a downright "duffer." No one can know until he has had a tiial, It is absolutely unfair to tear him to pieces for no other reason than that nothing is known of him, and that he has never distinguished himself in public life. When Mr Bryce took office a few years ago, although. he had been in Parliament for a long time previously, very little was known of him, and his appointment was laughed at. Now there is not one man of the Ministry in whom the colony has so much confidence. Who knows bat that it may be the same way with Mr Mitchelson ? THE PORTFOLIO OF PUBLIC WORKS. ;.::, For years past Mr E. G. Wright, of Ashburton, has been looked upon as th«

coming Minister of Public Works, and why he has not been appointed long ago is a mystery that no one can understand. Last year, before Mr Connolly was appointed, Minister of. Justice, Mr E. G, Wright was offered that portfolio but he refused it. He, however, intimated that he was willing to join the Ministry as Minister of Public Works, but to this the,,..Government. would not agree. It was thought then that the reason for this was that Mr W, W. Johnston had a penchant for that portfolio and that he would not resign it to take another, and when it became known that it was about to become vacant through Mr Johnston retiring, Mr Wright was.again spoken of as his probable successor. Why he has not been appointed is certainly a mystery. There is not in the House one man better adapted for the position of Minister of Public Works. He is an Engineer by profession, and has been a large railway contractor; he is a thoroughly honest upright politician, and he is a man of wealth and influence. Of all the public men in New Zealand there are few, if any, mora universally beloved ; he is the idol of his pwn constituency, and the admired of everyone who knows him. He is not a very fluent speaker, but he is a very able, a very hardworking and a very practical man. To all who know him he appears the beau-ideal of a Minister of Public Works, but for some reason the Ministry will not give him that position, and he will take no other. That he has refused other positions is certainly much to his credit. It shows that he is no office-seeker, and that he will only accept, such positions as he knows he can fil} with credit to himself and satisfaction to the colony. It is impossible to conjecture what the motives of the Government are in keeping him out of the Public Works Department, unless it is ■ they think Mr Wright would perform his duties in a manner that would result in themselves suffering by cotnparison.

THE INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. The office of Inspector of Nuisances is becoming a bone of contention at the Temuka Road Board meetings. The first meeting after the Clerk's appointment to that office a saparate voucher for his salary was passed. Mr Quinn at that meeting raised his voice against paying the Clerk for the office of Inspector of Nuisances, maintaining that there were many in the town who would be glad of the billet. He held at last, meeting that he understood the Chair- 1 man to say then that the salary would not be continued. He found, however, that it was, and that a new system of passing it had been'adopted. Instead of separate vouchers having been made out as hitherto, the salaries attached to both the offices of Clerk and Inspector of Nuisances were rolled up into one, and presented in one voucher. In this way the combined salaries have ever since been passed without anyone being the wiser of it,' It was very nasty of Mr Quinn to deteot this. Why could not Mr Quinn allow the Inspector of Nuisances to enjoy the sweets of his delicious office in peace, and desist from raking up every bit of " finoodling ".and then get reporters into trouble when they report what he says, Mr Quinn, of course, saw that because the Clerk and Overseer had too much to do, money bad been paid for giving him clerical assistance, and an effort was being made to give him further assistance in the shape of a foreman of works; but this was not sufficient reason for wishing to relieve that functionary of the Inspectorship of Nuisances, so as to enable him to do his own work without assistance. It is very remarkable how the work of the Road Board has increased. In the days of Mr.L*wis there used to be crowds of men working all over the country, contracts were let by the dozen, and yet there was never a complaint came before the Board ; there was never an angry word said at any of the meetings; everything went on smoothly, and the work was satisfactorily done, although Mr Lewis used to be—hem ! absent half his time, Things are completely changed. Contractors are growling and grumbling, numbers are finding fault with the way things are going on, and the meetings are degenerating into the proverbial beargarden. What has caused this change ? Will the members kindly tell us. Will the Chairman deny that this is a true representation of the state of things. We now offer him the opportunity of correcting anything wrong in this article, so that he may not take up the time of next meeting with any such explanations.