IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 159, 29 September 1883, Page 14

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

" Villainy somewhere ? One says, we are villains all, Not he: his honest fume should at least by me be maintained, But that old man, now lord of the broad estate and the Hall, Dropped off, gorged from a scheme, that had left us flaccid, and drained. Peace sitting under her olive, and slurring the days gone by, When the poor are hovell'd and hustled together, each sex like swine, When only the ledger lives, and when only not all men lie, Peace in her vineyard— yes ! but a company forges the wine." Tennyson. Mr Whitaker's resignation did not surprise us. It was predicted in the Observer's Parliamentary news more than two months ago that the Premier would resign at the close of the session. It was known that Mr Thomas Russell, who has always displayed quite a fraternal and affectionate interest in Mr Wbitaker's welfare, was impressed with the idea that the veteran New Zealand statesman was undermining his health and neglecting more important business in his devotion to politics, and had used convincing arguments to induce him to resign. Had Mr Whitaker's resignation occurred during the session, it must have been fatal to the party ; but he was too loyal to that party to destroy it, and too wily to give the Opposition a chance. So he waited until the close of the session, which would thus give the Government a chance toresbufne the portfolios, and obtain another lease ot office, at any rate, until next session. Then, if it be defeated, as it most likely will, if it last so long without falling to pieces, it will get an early dissolution, pnss the Estimates, and go to the country. But meantime Auckland stands a cliance of haying no voice in the Councils of the colony. The South has learned to treat it with undisguised contempt For this we have to thank its divided votes, which have always neutralised and stultified themselves. T ( ie only instructive lesson in the strong feeling manifested over the omission of an Auckland member from the Cabinet is the conviction that many years of centralism have not extinguished tho strong feeling of provincialism, and the desire for local government. Insular Separation or local legislation are tho questions of the future. (