The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1889. THE GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1913, 6 July 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1889. THE GOVERNMENT.

The Government have got two or three nasty knocks lately. First of all Sir George Grey carried a motion disapproving of house allowances being given to Ministers while living away from Wellington. The cause of this resolution being moved arose as follows Sir Frederick Whitaker, the Attoney-General, who is now very close m 80 years of age, had a Ministerialresidence provided for him in Wellingion. Instead of living in Wellington he went up to Auckland, and lived there in his own house, and drew housi allowance as a Minister. House allovances are made to Ministers who are not provided with Ministerial residences. There are riot sufficient residences for all, and such Ministers as cannot get house accommodation are allowed sufficient money to enableithemtopayrentfor a suitable plarie irii which to live. This is fair and reasonable, and no one could cavil at it, but it was neither fair nor reasonable for Sir Frederick Whitaker to leave the Ministerial residence provided for bin in Wellington empty, go to live in hs own house in Auckland, and then draw house allowance. Now this is the political purity Government, who rummaged every pigeon hole to find something wrong after the Stout-Yogel Ministry. They did vrhat none of their predecessors did before them: they published everything they could to damage the reputation of their predecessors, and if this is of their own doings their successor* will have something spicy to publish concerning them when they leave office. On this the Government were beaten, and if they had not been insmsible to sham© they would' rihver have defended such a monstroj^j, transaction. The next I matter on which they received a snub was on the Fisher affair. Sir Harry Atkinson laid on the table the correspondence between Mr Fisher and himself, and he refused to allow then to be printed or to go any further. Mr Fisher moved that they be referred to the Printing Committee, and although Ministers resisted the motion it was earned by a majority of three votes. Of course defeats like these are not sufficient to cause Ministers to consider their position. They only go to show that the House has not much respect for them. Indeed, we cannot see how it could, considering the extraordinary recent conduct of the Minister of Justice, Mr Fergus. As stated in our last issue, when Mr Hutchison asked him whether he had received a document from Msjor-General Stewart, stating that the defences of the colony were useless, ha denied all knowledge of it, and male a most unwarrantably violent ittack on that gentleman. Pressed iirther, however, he produced the document, which is to the effect that the lefences of Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington are useless, because cruisers with newly invented guns coud shell Dunedin from Ocean Beach, Christchurch from Sumner, and Wellingtm from Island Bay. It also contained a suggestion that long-range guns to protect these places should be provided. Now why did Mr Fergus deny the Existence of this? Why did he tell a 1 e over it ? It is difficult to say. Utdoubtedly he knew of its existence! it was in his department, and r h; Appears also that the Cabinet had it undpr consideration, and came to the, conclusion that no such cruisers is were mentioned would come to New Zealand. The only reason he could have for hiding it away wai' tho fear that those cities would be clamoring for long-range guns. I: is a scandalous thing to try to hide things of this kind, and let people five in a fool’s paradise, believing there is not the slightest danger,. More of his trickery is graphically told by the Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times. On the question of the Te Kooti affair he says—“Mr Fergus was retioerit, and fenced the thing through the Defence department vote and the permanent militia votes, saying members need not be impatient, he would’ tell M them when the committee came to it. At last the committee did come to it. It was embedded in the volunteer vote, and after conference wi'h the officials in the corner, the Minister said the cost was £2610, and appeared as ‘ unauthorised expenditure.’ ‘ But,’ said one member, ‘ there is no such item.’ Nor was there. After further private conference, the Minister explained that it came under ‘ contingencies.’ ‘ Then,’ exclaimed Dr Newman, ‘ the Minister withdraws the previous explanation’ ; to which Mr Fergus replied in the affirmative, though with a bad grace and amid much laughter.” Here again he wanted to hide the cost of the Te Kooti fiasco. In all our experience no Minister has hitherto cut such a sorry figure. ;