The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY.' FEBRUARY 7, 1887. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2518, 7 February 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY.' FEBRUARY 7, 1887. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

The New Zealand Times lias told us by authority that Sir Robert Stout has 110 intention of proceeding to London to represent the colony at the Imperial Conference, the Evening Press 1 has informed .us that Sir William Fitzherbert has been selected as our ambassador, and the Evening Post ip its last issue intimates that both. Sir Robert Stout and Major Atldnson are going. As the last-named journal is the unofficial organ of the Ministry, we may tab it that Sir Bobert , Stout's recent denial of any idea of leaving us was one of those lawyer-like utterances with which he is wont to conceal his

thoughts. There aro at least half a dozen' gentlemen in; the Legislative Council who are quite capable of ful-. filling , any duty ,■ which ' nmy ( ;be incumbent upon the colony in connection with the conference, and settlers i will generally fail to see why our Parliament'in the coming session should be decapitated' by.-lieing-' deprived of, the services of the leader of the Ministry and the leader of the Opposition. London appears'tobo a sort of sugar oask which presents irresistible fasoinations to tig''colonial flies.- In session or out of session, oiir'rulto and' 'statesmen evince a desire to go there, and, like Ireland, this colony seems to them " a good place to live out of." But what would the combined absence of Sir .Robert Stout and I Major Atkinson in tlie coming session mean ? Does it not indicate that little j or nothing would be done during the coming session—that members would be asked to meet for a few weeks, to vote supplies', draw their two hundred guineas each,- go home, fight.the general.olootion, and perhaps come back in the spring to earn another cheap honorarium by .transacting! the business which had been allowed to lapse in the autumn. It is stated that the 'understanding on which Sir Robert and the Major will go home is that the. (1) Representation Bill shall be pressed' forward, and (2) that.no legislation of a party charaoter shall be attempted during the coming session... As Sir Robert Stout is personally pledged to carry through the Representation Bill, wo fail to see how he can consistently with his promiso hand the measure over to Sir Julius Vogel.who, it is well known, is hostile to it. But still what is a pledge when it stands in the way of a trip to London, or what loss of honor does' Sir Robert sustain by forfeiting his word if ho can plaster tho wound at the Imperial Conference. Wo trust tho project will yot fall through. Sir Eoborfc Stout and Major Atkinson are usually, regarded as natural ouomios and it mil be a shock to their supporters on both sides to find them .travelling together as partners instead of barking at-one another on;the floor of the house. The arrangement may suit Sir Julius Yogel, as, for the time being he will exercise almost despotic power in New Zealand, and he is just the man to take advantage of this opportunity. It will not, however,-, suit the colony because it cannot trust Sir Julius. Since his return to our political arena he has acted more as tho agent of a Canterbury ring than as a statesman and although at one time we entertained ■ a hope that his reoognised abilities would prove of service to Now Zealand,' we lost all confidence in him when we found him working against "bis own. expressed 'convictions in order to retain place and power..

•■ The toll gate case at thoWoodville R.M. Court last weok appears to have been a flagrant miscarriage of justice. Certains native were plainly guilty of pulling down a legally established toll hou6o ;on a. legally., established high way and yot Messrs Haggon and Hall, ; the justices who heard the case, diemissed itnoij the absurd•andjidiculous;

pretext that a question of title was.involved. As.it. is understood that the' natives havenow withdrawn all opposition to the'toll the matter in dispute, is practically settled, but apart from this the spectacle of justices deciding a caso against the weight of law and ovidonce iB calculated to destroy public confidence in the administration of justice,. If, however, the present glaring instance of judicial incapacity should prove a warning to the Ministry to be more careful in tho queer solec-.

tions they have been accustomed to make when they periodically pitch all sort's and conditions of men on to the roll it will do good.