The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1891. THE GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2145, 3 January 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1891. THE GOVERNMENT.

Nothing has bo much surprised us as that anyone could possibly have voted in favor of the present Ministry during the recent election, yet such is the infatuation of the people of this colony that a large number of their followers have been elected. . Never has a Ministry with a more miserable record, gone before any country. They proved themselves extremely incapable, but there was worse than this. We could forgive helplessness; it appeals to our sense of pity, and if the barrenness of their record alone stood up in judgment against them we could understand it. But, besides being useless, they were guilty of a series of acts of a very serious nature. It has been alleged, on the authority of Mr George Buckley, that three of them were so’deeply involved with the Bank of New Zealand that they could not meet their engagements with their creditors. To say the least of it, it is indecent for them to occupy the positions they do until they have wiped off this stain. Too much has been said as regards the influence the Bank of New Zealand exercises over the affairs of this colony to allow three of its. dependants to hold positions in the Ministry. We ought, at least, to entrust the management of our affairs to men who can pay 20s in the £ in their private affairs. Then there was a variety of charges made against them.', Putting the Bank of New Zealand charges aside, they paid some £IO,OOO for Native land ; in Rotorua, although they had a 99 years lease of it. It was said this was done to assist the Bank of New Zealand. They paid £3OO to" assist a very wealthy man named Smith to go to law with the North Island Maoris, and it is alleged' that the reason they did so was because the Bank of New Zealand was interested in it and other similar transactions. Then there was the Judge Edwards and Judge Ward cases, and a great many other acts of a doubtful nature. And yet they did not seem disposed to blush, 'i hoy put bn as bold a front as ever. Notwithstanding that|they have been defeated at the elections they want to continue their questionable practices by endeavoring to crowd their friends into the Legislative Council, regardless altogether of the many pledges given by them during the last three years that they would not do so. In 1887 Sir Harry Atkinson said that when the number of the Lower House was reduced to 70, the number of the Legislative Council should be reduced to 35. There are at present 39 members of the Legislative Council, that is far more than there ought to be. • Now it appears to us that for the present Ministry to make fresh appointments to the Council is monstrous. They reduced the number of members in the House ef Representatives so as to reduce the expenditure,|yet they would not scruple to burden the people with pensions for Mes.sis Ormond, Pulton and Co. That was the secret of these gentlemen not seeking re-election. They were promised that they would be raised to the Legislative Council. And ; who are they ? Mr Ormond is mixed up with the Twelve Apostles, and in questionable Native land transactions. Mr Whyte is mixed, up in the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, and is an agent of the Globo Accounts Company. That is a nice man, to settle permanently in the Upper House, Then there are two, lawyers, viz., Messrs Samuel and Dbwnia Stewart—two Liberal traitors. These two gentlemen were elected as Liberals, but doubtless were purchased by a promise of a seat in the Upper House and so they turned round and supported the Ministry. Now there was some noise made when some one suggested that Mr J. A. Millar should be appointed, and we were amongst those who objected to it, but we unhesitatingly say that we would far rather sea him appointed than this agent of the Bank of New Zealand, the Maori landshark, or the treacherous lawyers. It is simply a disgrace to suggest the names of these gentlemen for appointment, and if there was any room to doubt the corrupt disposition of the present Ministry it appears to us that there cannot be any longer any when we find that this is the class they wish to crowd into ithe Legislative Council. Plainly and clearly these two lawyers have been bought with promises of being appointed, and this is how the Atkinsonian party secure majorities. That is what they are doing at present; they are now trying to purchase the Independent members, and unless they are made of better stuff than the usual class of rail-sitters, we shall find the Government having a majority after Parliament meets. And this is how we governed—by bribery, corruption, and fraud.