The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1891. THE GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2172, 7 March 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1891. THE GOVERNMENT.

In replying to a congratulatory address presented to him in Inyercargill recently the Hon, J. G. Ward, Post-master-General, said that with one exception all the members of the present Government were men who had risen from the ranks, and that he was proud to be associated with them. There is a healthy tone about this, which denotes that Mr Ward is a true democrat, and a man of sterling worth. It is the ring of the genuine metal. Invariably it happens that persons who get up in the world lose all recollections of their early history, and, like the Mayor of Limerick, do not know themselves very often. They wish to pose as aristocrats, and cease to know the friends of their youth. Mr Ward is not one of these people evidently. He takes a pride in having risen from the ranks, and boasts of being associated with men of the same calibre. This is certainly a very healthy sign of the times. It is a hopeful sign to find the leaders of the people proud of belonging to the people. But Mr Ward was scarcely accurate- The Hon. P. J. Buckley can scarcely be said to have risen from the ranks. In early life he received a legal training, and has made bis living by the law ever since. The one exception to whom Mr Ward referred is the Hon. W. P. Reaves. He certainly was born and brought up in the lap of luxury, but notwithstanding his early training and the exclusiveness of the circle in which he passed his early life he is undoubtedly the most thoroughgoing democrat in the Cabinet. Anything he can do to promote liberal legislation and the general good of the country will be done. The present Government, therefore, may be said to be in thorough sympathy with the people, and unless they do good we shall be greatly disappointed. But it will depend a greal deal on Parliament. Will they get supported? That is the question. The Ministry can do nothing unless a majority of the members assist them to carry their measures. And again, how will they get on with the Legislative Council ? The Council was flooded recently with the opponents of the present Government, and it is very possible it may refuse to pass their measures, The Premier said he found it difficult to get a mover and seconder for the Address-m-Reply there, and if that is true it is probable that the Council will throw all possible obstacles in the way of the Government. In that case the Government must make fresh appointments to the Council, and then the Tories will scream “ extravagance.” There can be no doubt but that the Council will prove a difficulty in the way of progressive legislation, and considerably handicap the present Government.