The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3714, 19 January 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1891.

Why is the Premier so persistent in his efforts <o create a batch of Legislative Councillors before Parliament meets ? The plain answer is that after the House assembles he anight be prevented by lion, members from making the appointments. This means that he is doing something which the House may disapprove of, and the further question arises, is he justified in defying the opinion of the representatives of the people ? The answer lo this must be in the negative, but there are contingencies when a Premier is not altogether a free agent, and the present appears to be one. At a time when the Premier honestly believed that he had a majority at his back, both in the House and in the country, he made promisee to certain public men of seats in the Legislative Council, and as a man of honor he is bound to do his utmost to fulfil them. He is evidently anxious now, not to work a point for his party nor to buy political support, but simply to keep faith with pledges given at a time when he had no reason to doubt his power of honoring them. He was wrong in making the promises, but he is right in trying to fulfil them. Jt he has uo constitutional right to make the appointments, the Governor will, ao doubt, refuse to act on his advice, and thus the difficulty will be solved. If the Premier is within his right the result will be a shock to the liberal party, but a matter of congratulation to colonists. The House of Representatives has sunk to a lower level and the Legislative Council with the proposed additions will rise to a higher level. The Upper House will gain the prestige which the Lower House loses, and there will be some guarantee for the colony that no revolutionary legislation will be the outcome of the late election,

Sir Harhy Atkinsqn is flouted as a man who, liaviug enjoyed exceptional opportunities of feathering his nest, has yet been improvident, and is pressing the Colony for an easy and a well paid billet. We do not know how far it is desirable to look behind the scenes at the personal means or want of means of leading politicians, but we feel sure that the opposition party cannot afford to throw stones. When they wera in ppwer there were some queer stories told about Sir Julius Voxel's financial position, find even something was said about Mr tfallauce's travelling allowances, and

if we were to repeat all we have heard about the debts and difficulties of the rank and file of the party there would be queer disclosures. The opposition cannot afford to be personal on a point like this, but some members of it are perhaps not quite so discreet as their leaders. We certainly never hear of Mr Ballance or Sir Robert Stout making personal attacks of this kind, and it is to be regretted that their followers do not feel it incumbent upon them to follow the good example they are wont to sot. Should Sir Harry, when he retires from the Ministry, receive an appointment, the ground on which it will be conferred will undoubtedly be the expediency of retaining in the service of the Colony the ablest and most devoted politician in the land. Opinions differ widely on the abstract questions of policy which from time to time have been advocated by Sir Harry, but tliere are still gentlemen on both sides of the House, and these gentlemen are likely to be unanimous in admitting Sir Harry Atkinson's capacity for still further serving the Colony, and may deem it to the advantage of New Zealand to retain his services. We venture to say that if Sir Harry Atkinson takes an appointment lie will have the support of many of tlie best men itl the ranks of the opposition. What the worst men may say on the subject will not matter much!