SATURDAY, JUNE 10. 1899.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 6, 10 June 1899, Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 10. 1899.

Mr John Itlutchejox, M.il.K. Cor "Wellington, addressed a meeting on political subjects in Timnru on Wednesday evening last. Hi^ addrcbS ia well Wortli reading by residents oi" South Canterbury, where Mr FJatman, Mr HallJones and Major Steward, out and out fupportcir. of the Government, hold sway. We do not mean to say that we agre.? v*ilh all Mr Iluicheson'a statements, nor yet his manner of inveighing against the Government, but we think that for the benefit of all parties it is jusfc as well we should occasionally li^ar what is to \v> said on the other side. Let us tal:e his speech PERIATIM, and let us see what there really is in it. He had no need to explain his appearance on a platform our of his own district — the fact that the public nearly filled the theatre is sufficient evidence that many desired to listen to the gentleman. lie is a freo citizen of a i'ree country, and if people turn up and applaud, no excuse is necessary for the speaker whom the people come to hear. Mr Hall-Jones and Mr liutcbeson were both deeply interested parties in the dispute over " Captain " Jones certilieaie. It is well that both should stat° their case before the electors oi South Canterbury. On the Elective Executive Bill, Mr Hutcheson is out&poken. His experience of politics emphasises the view that the electors of this colony will ultimately adopt. He says that elected as a labour candidate for Wellington (he is a sailmaker by trade) he found tho pledge to support the Liberal party " hard to keep and retain his selfrespect."' "A good party man must be content to do violence to his judgment, his reason, and his conscience." The adoption of our member's Bill would not remove the Ministry above the temptation to improve the shining hour by the distribution of a little patronage, but there is a probability it would lessen it considerably. The bestowal of patronage by those in power has its origin not in fhe wickedness of Miniefrrs, but in. the pressure of clamorous clients — maity electorS yote for those -candidates who can ge-t most for them— ri member^ fmppOrt tlie { Govern- J

mcnt because they can conf ci favours on their clients, the electors of their district. ; — the Ministry must distribute good things among its faithful friends or they will lose office ; the Premier who ascends the throne with a determination to stay, can'i; allow his Ministers to strive too much after righteousness, unless the course of honesty happens to be thebe'>t policy, and hence we get with much truth the cry against the Ministry in power — thofc its administration is characterised by a " spoils to the victors " programm 3 that amounts to corruption. The cry is a pharasaical one, except in so far as one set of Ministers imy asii^a Hi best appointments to its friends who may be less worthy or less able to fill them than the friends of a past or future Ministry. The rest of Mr Hutchepon's speech was mainly compo-sod of his. explanation of ths certificate question. This will be threshed oat in Parliament, an 1 it may well be laid asi Te at tha pre-ieufc moment. He implored his audience to form a party aiming 1 at purity of government, the overthrow of one powerful man who rules all who are bound to support Liberal principles ; the decentralisation of government : the , baying back of the land, the j people's birth right, the abolition of political influence, and the reform of the Civil Service. A young national party with planks of that sort might bo useful, but we doubt if the time is opportune, and considering the good gifts the gods have sent this part of Canterbury, we think the place unfortunate for initiating Mr Hntchcson's policy. His speech no doubt is able and in parts clever, but it cannot be paid that it is likely to deeply impress men's minds. What has been the burning question in this colony for years? Ths land question, and through its reform the more e^ual distribution of woilth. That is tl\3 difficulty oil the age, an>l whatever may be said or thought of, the conduct of the Government in other affairs, they become mere peccadillos — -mere " trifles light as air " compared to the fearless way in which the Hon. Richard Beddon grappled with that problem of problems. It was a stinging nettle to be sure, but it was grasped by a nlan of metal. The Hon. Richard is an autocrat and should be ousted from office ! Is he ? It took a man of forceful character to introduce the land legislation that has been passed by the New 1 Zealand Parliament, If Mr Seddon liad been less an antocrat would we hare reached the goal, - already attainted ? It took a man of will and determination to do what Mr Seddon ha* done iri large-tliings. Now tint t3ie people gained their end in one direction,. JjLi .is de-

sirable to remember that the powers that has so far succeeded in accomplishing that end, may b? ifl^oms in the smaller affairs of life. The Government is said to be a one-man Government. So itmiybo. It his dono a great deal for the people of the coanfci'y as a whole, and thxt ability and strong will that has done so much can do abtle-43 l>3come but'.lensoii 3 intira?. Th.3 people hn'2 have had the benefit of the autocracy ; now they hive to put up with its occasion il unpleasantness. There are two sid»3 to the mirror, howover, and Mr Hutchison has given us a goo 1 view of one, while the other sid? — • the larg 3 general policy of thofie in pow^r, has remained practically unsullied.