THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1894. THE PREMIERSHIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2696, 9 August 1894, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1894. THE PREMIERSHIP.

Sir Robert Stout has said at Wanganui that it was the wish of the late John Ballance that he (Sir Robert Stout) should succeed him as Premier. This question has been much canvassed since Mr Ballauce died, but this is the first time anyone in a position to speak with authority has made it public. We are inclined to think, from information which has come to our knowledge, that persons who were on the most intimate terms with the late Premier were under the impression that it was Mr Ballance’s desire that Sir Robert Stout should succeed him, but his wishes did not bind the party. What happened is this; While Mr Ballance was sick Mr Seddon acted as Premier. When Mr Ballance died Sir Robert Stout was not a member of the House, and the Cabinet decided that Mr Seddon should continue to act .as Premier until Parliament met. Meantime, Sir Robert Stout was elected to Parliament, and when Parlialmeut met Mr Seddon placed himself in the hands of the Liberal party. He told the party that they could elect whomsoever they liked as leader, and they elected Mr Seddon. Mr Ballance’s wishes wore not binding on the party , they had the right to select their own leader, and they did it, and whatever Mr Ballance’s wishes were they did not matter one straw. We revere the memory of tho Mr Ballance as much as anyone could, but wo must £,ay that the fact that ho preferred ilobo.rt Stout to succeed him to Mr Seddon (Ws p.ot in the slightest degree vitiate Mr J’iolit to the position for which he was unanimously selected by the Liberal party. And now., w hat happened afterwards ? The Hon. P. A. Buckley actually offered to resign the Attorney-Generalship in favor of Sir Robert "Stout, but that gentleman refused to take it. Ho would not accept that position because lie could not got tho Premiership, and now ho cannot find language bad enough to abuse Mr Seddon. if Mr Seddon had stuck to tho PrLMiiierahip without consulting the Liberal party, there w<>uld bo sumo ground for finding fault with him, but ho did not; ho placed himself in the bunds of his party, and they selected him ua their leader, aud tho fact that they

still adhere to him with unswerving consistency proves they have confidence in him. This is enough for the outside public, and whatever Mr Hallance’s last will and testament was does not affect Mr Seddon’s position in the slightest degree.