THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3095, 18 January 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879.

Some people affect to despise, or at any rate undervalue the visits of Ministers of the Crown to districts. They aver that although Ministers may "possess their souls in patience" sufficiently long to listen to the wants or complaints of the numerous body of interviewers—public and private—who wait upon them; and even go co far as to make promises of a highly problematical character, their position is such that no breach of faith in regard to proI mises unfulfilled can ever be brought against them, as Ministers are always careful to hedge about their promises with such indefiniteness as to afford them an excuse on the score of time. No doubt there is an element of reason in the position taken up by these people who affect to despise the utility of Ministerial visits, but it does not - apply generally; and if Ministers do not always carry out or do all they promise, it is perhaps as much owing to the unreasonableness of the requisitionists as to the undue complaisance of Ministers. As for ourselves and our experience of Ministers, we can assert that visits of Ministers of the Crown here have generally been of more advantage to us than a whole session of debates. The claims of this district have been acknowledged on nearly all occasion! when Ministers have come to view it, and the most substantial recognition of our claims has been due more to local than Parliamentary representation. If some Ministers have been too facile in promises—as was the case with the last Native Minister in the late Government—others have done even more than they promised. The Hon. Daniel Pollen belongs to that type of men whose suavity and complaisance are never affected by their regard for truth. If they promise, they promise: whether they may be abje to carry out their promises is a consideration that never troubles them. Indeed, it may be asserted without dread of contradiction, that politicians of this class, who have been brought up in an atmosphere of official life—never selfreliant but always dependent on a paternal Government for place aDd play—are a« used to the custom of promising what they never expect to fulfil, as the trained serving man is to the custom of giving such evasive answers as " not at home "to callers. The differ-

ence is that the latter is well understood ; while the promises of Ministers such as we hare indicated may deceive and mislead people to their detriment, and create a feeling of untrustworthiness in Ministers generally. The " promising " class we have not much faith in; but when Ministers come and look carefully into our requirements, and carefully listen to the representations made to them, we hare faith in them. Such visits and visitors we have lately been favored with* and we have no hesitation in saying that the district will benefit thereby. Our representatives in Parliament may do all they can to promote the interests of the district, but interests of a colonial nature are alwayß cropping up and demanding their attention. The visits of Ministers to remote centres of population enable them to give assistance to districts having special wants; and it happens that out of " special" votes they are able to do that which, but for their personal oversight, would never be done. Thus we recognise the good of Ministers carrying out peripatetic progresses during the recess. The good they do is immeasurably above that they, could accomplish if they remained daily in cabinet consultation, while the knowledge they gain of the country helps them the better to prepare measures . for the good government of the country. We are not able at present to congratulate ourselves on any great good from the latest Ministerial visit, but from the intelligent way in which local wants were put before the Hon. J. Sheehan, and the answers given thereto, we have the greatest confidence his visit will result in a large measure of good. Mr Sheehan was not lavish of promises, but he will be the more anxious to do us substantial good. As we are situated, we say, that Ministerial visits are events not to be despised or undervalued.