The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1889. MR FISHER’S RESIGNATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1876, 9 April 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1889. MR FISHER’S RESIGNATION.

Mb Fisheb’s resignation reached the Premier at half past nine o’clock on Sunday evening. It is surmised that the resignation will be covered by a review of the difference which has arisen between himself and his fellow Ministers, ■ which will doubtless be published in the course of time, and prove interesting reading. The Evening Post says:—“The circumstances which have led to Mr Fisher’s retirement are not in full as yet public property, but it is understood that they embrace a much wider range of differences than any personal disagreement or paltry dispute about excise prosecutions. Mr Fisher is understood to have consulted political friends in various parts of the colony as to his position in the matter, and he has acted in accordance with their advice.” We have no doubt Mr Fisher will do bis best to pose as a martyr to his principles, and try to make it appear that he has sacrificed himself in the interest of the public. It is possible he may have been sacrificed by Ministers to suit their own ends, but that Mr Fisher sacrificed himself to the public good we doubt. He was elected to oust Sir Harry Atkinson from office. He did so, but took a band in ousting every Ministry who subsequently took office until be became himself a Minister, with Sir Harry Atkinson as his chief. Had Mr Fisher been left out of the Ministry when Sir Harry Atkinson took him in he would have been fighting against the Ministry ever since, and it was said at the time that Sir Harry had to give him a portfolio to shut his mouth. Mr Fisher poses as a Liberal, but throughout his career he has proved himself treacherous to the cause. He would be anything that would pay him, and the last thing he would think of is to sacrifice himself to the public good. It is no use speculating on Mr Fisher’s motives or intentions. He has resigned, and if we mistake not he will hold up the corrupt character of his colleagues in a light that will result in their ultimate discomfiture. Devoid of all sense of responsibility Mr Fisher is exactly the man to do everything in his power, without being over-punc-tilous as to accuracy, ,to wreak vengeance on those who deprived him of his position. The' Wanganui Herald, of which Mr Eallance is editor, says that from a private received from Christchurch it le ,rns that the quarrel between,?Ministers arose out of the following circumstances : Mr Fisher Apeeired to prosecute a merchant, who had been detected Shannon in defrauding the Mr Stevens, one of rvho lives in wires with the result was not allowed as he desired. s a brewer in the beer duty Ministers decided that he slßld be prosecuted, but Mr Fisher compromised the matter by taking from the brewer the amount he was supposed to have defrauded the revenue of. Mr Fisher was Commissioner of Customs, and this was in his department, and it was certainly a most extraordinary thing to prevent him prosecuting the man who defrauded the Customs in Christchurch and to insist upon his prosecuting the Wellington brewer, who probably is one of his personal friends. If all this is true, it is one of the most disgustingly dirty transactions we have beard of and shows the corruptness of our governors. In all probability Mr Fisher will soon “let the cat out of the bag,” and give us a glimpse behind the scenes. . i«,i»nM m inn—WMiM—