The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1887. OUR BEST PREMIERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3628, 20 June 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1887. OUR BEST PREMIERS.

Some thirty years ago a Nelson provincial politician came to the front m the House of Representative? .in the person of Sir Edward Stafford, who is now a retired colonist, upon whom an additional Imperial honor has just been beßtowed. He has recently been referred to as the best Premier New Zealand ever had, and he deserved'the distinction. For thirteen years he ruled this colony, administering, our affairs economically and honestly, The appearance of the great projector, Sir Mm Yogel, oii the political stage was the signal for the retirement of men like Mr Stafford and Mr Waterhouse—men who relied upon the legitimate drama for success, and who became disgusted when the fickle audience deserted them for Vogelian glitter, tinsel, and'claptrap. It is said that Sir Edward Stafford, a man of wealth as well as of ability, has given up New Zealand, and no doubt he has acted wisely in so doing. The colony is now so over-burdened witli taxation that it no longer presents the field for euterprise which it once offered. Old New Zealand, even with a native war on hand, was in a sounder position than the New Zealand of to-day, staggering under, a still heavier bur--den of debt and financial' embarrassment. v "Another ex-Premier of New Zealand, who is entitled to almost equal rank with Sir Edward Stafford; is Sir John Hall, who entered Parliament about the same : time. Like Sir Edward Stafford, he isi man of high principle, an industrious man, and an experienced man. He is one of the' few public men in the colony who can be trusted to administer its affairs, sensibly and economically, and it is only natural that at the present time he should be regarded as the coming man,who is tb'put our affairs in order and restore our almost exhausted credit. When he left office before, he did so because ill health compelled him to relinguish the collar, and it was a bad day for-New Zealand when we lost his services, for his party wore unable to obtain a leader equal to him as his successor. Major Atkinson possesses, indeed, many of his sterling qualities, but lie has notthe tact of Sir John Hall, nor his common sense grasp of publio. questions. It is extremely fortunate that at the present juncture the services of a moderate and capable leader like Sir John Hall are available, more' especially as the party which has been led by Major Atkinson during the -late session has confidence in him, and Major Atkinson himself, who is extremely unselfish in his political career, will probably work cordially undeihisold chief.

Our local contemporary compares Messrs: Beetliam and Buchanan to Siamese twins. They have certainly 1 pulled' together for the benefit Of the colony and district, and the compliment is deserved. The Wairarapa has been far better represented in Parliament of late years than it was when Messrs Beetliam and Bunny sat together and nullified the legitimate influ-' enee of ,the district by voting against eaeh other. Our contemporary also asserts that we are duly lound io support' Messrs Beetham arid Buchanan. This is a statement which has been repeatedly made in different forms , by'our contemporary, anctrepeatedly contradieted by us.. .Again" we say it is afalsehood, and if it is again repeated we may contradict it' still more strongly. We, are free to support either Messrs McCardle, Hawkins, or Bunny if we deemed that,their return would be any advantage to anybody else but themselves. We are working on a thoroughly independent footing in the interests of the district, and are unpledged to all else.