THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1892. THE VICTORIAN AGENT-GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2326, 5 March 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1892. THE VICTORIAN AGENT-GENERAL.

A cablegram informs us that Mr Munro is going to England to represent Victoria as Agent-General. This is extraordinary news, Mr Munro has filled the position of Premier of Victoria, and only resigned it to take up the Agent-Generalship. There would have been nothing in this (although it does not look well for the leader to desert his party for a snug billet), and no doubt the appointment would have bren accepted without much comment only for an incident which happened just at the same time. That incident was the failure of the Real Estate Bank, of which Mr Munro was the leading light. The investigation into the affairs of this institution proved that it had been carried on for years by means of “bogus” reports and false representations, and Mr Munro was universally condemned for the part he played in connection with the concern. Large numbers of people were practically swindled out of their money by this bankrupt bank, and Mr Munro came very badly out ot the whole affair. No sooner were the affairs of the bank disclosed than a very strong agitation was got up against appointing Mr Munro as Agent-General. Public meetings were held and the appointment denounced ; in the theatres variety actors ridiculed it amidst storms of applause, and the public Press vehemently denounced it as indecent. But despite all this, and in the teeth of popular indignation, Mr Munro has been appointed AgentGeneral, and is, we are told, leaving to assume his duties. This, we think, is the most insane act a Government ever did. Victoria is now in very low water ; she has indulged in a long term of intoxicating extravagance, and is now going through the terrors of delirium tremens. She borrowed madly; got up a land boom, forced up prices, and plunged into reckless extravagance, publicly and privately, and now the reaction has set in. Her revenue is falling at a treraendons rate. The results of the past and current year will leave her with a deficit of £1,000,000 sterling. Everything is at a standstill, and she will now have to adopt the “ drastic retrenchment” policy of which we have heard so much and seen so little in this colony. Now that is the position of Victoria, and it is also the position of Mr Munro himself. He was, it is said, once very wealthy. He made a great deal of money some years ago, but he has lately lost it all in the bank and in other speculations, and now, according to public report, he is bankrupt in purse as well as in reputation. It is certainly madness for Victoria to send such a man to represent her at such a critical moment in her history. He cannot command either confidence or respect, for it is impossible that a man who is hounded down by popular clamor in his own colony can be much thought of in England, and this must have an injurious effect on Victoria. Such is Mr Munro, the new AgentQeneral for Victoria, but he is only one of the many politicians who have been connected with very shady transactions in the other colonies. Contrasted with these the politicians of New Zealand occupy a proud pasition. as in no instance has any serious charge been made against any of them. Indeed, it appears to us we have had in this colony a better class of politicians than they have had in any of the sister colonies. No man south of the line could come within leagues of Sir George Grey ; nor have they had the equals of Sir Julius Vogel, Sir William Eitzherbert, or Sir Robert Stout. Then we have had Messrs Dommett and Weld, Sir Jsdva?d Stafford, John Edward Fitzgerald, and a host of other able statesmen, while our present team is certainlythe most:progressive south of the line, and will, we venture to say, compare favorably with any other Administration, We believe, too, that our brilliant young Minister of Justice will, if he lives for it, make for himself a name which will be second to ;mne when the list of OilT irt Century statesmen is compiled. jT.?. Uin 8 all things into consideration, we think that though we may sometimes wish our politicians “ far, far away ” irora Bellamy’s we have every reason to respect them as honorable men. We have a great deal to be thankful for in this colony we have climate, soil, md an average share of political to be thankful for; we are he people on he face of the ;arth and it T.' our own fault if we do lot make our island i.T me first flower md gem of the Southern Hemisphere,

OUR SURPLUS. The end of the financial year is drawing near, and, acccording to the best authorities, we will have a large surplus. The real amount is not yet known, but it is estimated that it will not be far from £IOO,OOO. This is pleasant, and proves how little Mr iliollestou knew about the situation

when he told us the Government were "galloping to a deficit. The Conservative press, however, will not give the Government any credit for this : they say they have collected under the old system of taxation, and consequently the credit for it belongs to the late Ministry. No doubt if the Government had a deficit it would not have been credited to the late Ministry ; we should under such circumstances hear Mr Rolleston's prescience extolled to the skies, and the Government condemned for ruining the colony. They have, however, come out creditably, and it would only be fair to acknowledge now that they have done better than was expected. It is true that they have collected the taxation under the old system, but they could have been extravagant and spent it. Instead of that they have saved £45,000, and consequently will have a surplus. At anyrate it is satisfactory to know that the Government can be carried on without increasing taxation, and whether this is due to the past or present Ministry is of no great consequence.