KING SALE.

West Coast Times, Issue 666, 12 November 1867, Page 4

KING SALE.

(from the hokitika despatch, nov. '9.) No Government having an important experiment in hand, on the sxxecess or failure of which not only its reputation, but its policy depends, can afford to allow false impressions to prevail as to its intentions, without taking some means — direct or indirect — of letting the actual truth be known. In the case of the present experiment of government in Westland, both the political reputation of the Government is concerned, and tho success of the policy on which it has staked that reputation is imperilled. At this moment Mr Hall has every motive to conciliate public feeling in the district. And he has the opportunity of disabusing the public mind of the reports that have obtained currency with reference to the appointment of Mr Sale as the irresponsible Chief of Westland, backed up by all the power and authority of the General Government if they are without substantial foundation. Seeing that Mr Hall has not taken advantage of his opportunity to give even the most indirect contradition to this report, we think we are justified in assuming, that it is true that Mr Sale is to be fixed upon us like the Old Man of the Woods upon the shoulders of Sinbad the Sailor. He is the protege of the General Government, and that appears to give him a sufficient title to override every Westland man — even Mr Bonar, whose nomination would be graceful as the first popularly elected representative of the responsible system of Government in the district. We all know, although Mr Hall may not, what government in the hands of King Sale will be. If there was any doubt on the subject it might have been removed by the altered tone that has prevailed during the last two or three days in official circles. A week ago, a change was believed in — a real change that should give the people of Westland some power. That illusion seems to be now dissipated. The official mind has recovered itself. It is perfectly safe under its new guarantees, and has taken its cue accordingly. Mr Sale is an honest and honorable man. But he is utterly destitute of all the qualities that would constitute him a popular constitutional ruler. He can never be one with the people. Persons say that they like him better as they come to understand him better. But a public ruler will never be a successful one, who requires a long process of approach to be gone through before he gets to be understood. Hitherto the Commissioner's office has been about the hist place that a man would go to on any business, unless he werex^reparedto do so in a cringing, subservient spirit, such as became the poor clients and dependants who used to hang about the waiting-rooms of great lords. Mr Sale can never be anything other to the people of this district than he has been. Self-opinionated, selfdetermined ; resentful of all interference ; and backed by powerful support, he may be expected to be in constant collision with the County Council. We believe him to be incapable of ruling by advice He will rule by his own will. The' CounciLwill, as a matter of course, be antagonistic ; and the result will be an unseemly struggle, that will attract attention to our great experiment in a sense not anticipated or desired by its authors. If Westland were made a new Province, and its Council possessed full powers, it would matter little who was the Superintendent or Executive Chief. But with the limited powers conferred on our new representative body, everything depends upon the character of the man who is appointed to hold the chief place. All Mr Sale's instincts, and all the habits he has acquired during his long reign of irresponsible power essentially unfit him for the position to which it is reported he is about to be elevated. And we may be sure that if we are to have King Sale put over us, his people will be a rebellious one, and his reign troublous. We cling to the hope that the mistake of this appointment will not be made. The main object of the Government should be to appoint a man to the Chairmanship likely to maintain a good understanding with the Council, and act in harmony with it.