The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1890. WHO IS TO LEAD?

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3473, 31 March 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1890. WHO IS TO LEAD?

One of,, the ;fairest and shrewdest political leaders we' have read of late appe'ared, under the above heading in the Evening Post; of Saturday last. Though our'contemporary is not a supporter of Sir Harry Atkinson, it expresses sincere regret that he is unlikely, frb'm illlipaltli, to bo able to lead the House during tho coming session, arid gives him credit ; for capacity as a parly leader and for integrity as a politician, In discussing Mr Bryce's qualifications to succeed him, our contemporary prophecies that' an administration'under the hero of Parihaka would 1 he a failure, This is possible, because Mr Bryce is a little too straightforward for the ordinary run of M.H.R.s; but, at the same 1 time,Jwe should not be sorry to see the experiment tried./Mr Brycei3 the;bravest and truest man in the political ranks of'JNew Zealand;' his exporienco, capacity, and judgment are undoubted, aud his unselfish devotion to the,best interests of the colony is unquestioned, and if such a rW cannot worthily fill the highest" place in the Assembly, then wo may conclude' that our political system, and not Mr Bryce, is'at fault. According to our contemporary, Mr Bryce is cold and, unsympathetic in manner, rather slowi in thought, exceedingly intolerant of tho slightest difference of opinion, most doggedly obstinate, and sorely wanting in tact. There is a certain degree of truth in this description, but it is, perhaps, equally applicable, to a-man like Genpral Grant, who was considered quite equal to tho responsibilitias of the Presidency of the United States, It is not a bad qualification for a leader to be slow in coming to a conclusion.- and tenacious of the opinion which' lie deliberately adopts. On one point we quite agree with our contemporary, and that is that neither Mr Bflllance 1 nor Mr G, Fisher are fit to be enlisted with' the position of leader, " Who is 'fro lead," then ? Our contemporary does not answer the question, but in matters of this kind the unexpected always happens, and the hour brings tho man. lii old times London quid mines would shake their heads and ask." who is to carryon theQueen'sGovernment?" but the' difficulty was always solved when the necessity of determining it absolutely arose, .That..Sir Harry Atkinson has possessed a - favorable combination of qualities, which have made him'.an:exceptionally strong' Minister, renders, it, from one point of view,, diffioult to find a successor equally acceptable to the House, but his very strength has. encouraged him to fill his Cabinet with ciphers. If .oar next Premier be a few inches shorter frhan the present one, he ■ will, possibly haveto sdyajltage of posses;' sing colleagues of a 'better stamp than the ; Ksher-Fergus-Hislop opuibinatidn' which Sir |elected, The;'new Cabinet, as'; a whole, luafb'e stronger than the. old

capable. We are very well satisfied 'that adjournal 'in the position of the Post[,conies to the conclusion that Mr ■: fßallanpa.; '!son't§tlo;*V -His extreme would rentier Mm a 3ftngerouß;leadk^and^is;superfluitypf tact would be a greater menace to trustworthy Government than Mr Bryce's deficiency. Wo hopo, assuming that Sir Harry Atkinson find? it neoessary-tp- retire, <to ■ see Mr-Bryce leading ,|ie House next se'ssion,'and that thejjomibi general election will, inpure us good .material for another choice, if the necessity for a further change becomes apparent,

Tnfi United District Charitable Ai> Board Las determined the quotas t be contributed by the various loca bodies during'the ensuing year. Th North Wairarapa Ooanty; and th Borough of Mastertpn are assessed a £650123, and are entitled to receiv back:the sum of £BSO, being th estimated cost of administering ou looal Benevolent Society. The Soutl Wairarapa County, together will the boroughs of Groytown and Cai terton, will be called upon to .pa; £(io7, and will only receive hao £l9O, so that the Northern Count; has, on the whole, the better bar gain. At this end of the districti larger sum is expended inOharitabl Aid, but whether our liberality ii this direction is wise is an opei question. The sore pointwith mos settlers is that the Northern distric has to contribute £BOO, and th Southern £ll7 to the United Distric Board, which sums do not come bad again to them. In the past-ou representatives have fought strongl; m the' Assembly for sepamtior between Wellington and the Waira rapa in the administration of Chari table Aid, and we trust that in tin joining session they will be ablo t< larry their .point. Tn tho interin Ihere is no alternative-bat to pay ths juota as demanded. Much monej ras wasted last year in litigatior )y a vain attempt to evade payment, md our local bodies, lost ; money oui )f their parses' at both ends,' one itreara going into the pockets of the egal fraternity, and tlio other into ,he maw of the District Board. This ime they will probably be content to lear the ills tbey have, rather than o fly to others whioh thoy at least lowknowsomething of, butthoy mHst lot forget to bring some pressure to lear on Parliainen 1 ) in the coming cssion for the alteration in tho law yhich is so much needed.