SIR H. ATKINSON AS A LEADER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2516, 25 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIR H. ATKINSON AS A LEADER.

Tim following letter, written by aproini. nent settlor in tlie Wairarapa, appears in the New Zealand Times I notice that last month some 1500 persons left the colony in excess of arrivals. This means a serious exodus. Sir H. Atkinson is taking no proper measure to stop this exodus. His past bad leadership is chiefly responsible also for the present state of things. There is of course no necessity for them to continue for long if duly provided against. A statesman cau do pretty well what he pleases with any community, unless his demands are altogether unreasonable. Au contrarie, a politician i 3 obliged to do what the community pleases, which is usually found most harmful. I have, therefore, not seen as yet any attempt at true statesmanship upon Sir H. Atkinson's part to get the Colony out of the mess that he and Sir Julius Vogel have plunged it into. His policy of retrenchment is most unstatesmanlike, and is thoroughly wrong from beginning to end ; and his Protection policy is quite need-

less. He does not appear to liave the slightest glimmering of the true way to retrench. His present method will, of coarse, not succeed. He is like a man far down a mountain torrent vainly trying to turn a stream which a little judicious labour would easily have turned at tho top. His blunders and mistakes and wretched policy of expediency are simply lamentable, as there are elements in the Young New Zealand Party, which, if properly led, would, in a fair number of years, restore prosperity to the colony. But everything depends upon the leulership. The whole question rests with the leader. The best service Sir H. Atkinson could render the colony now—if he really has sufficient love for the country to wished to assist it—is to retire from politics altogether, and remove his essentially bad leadership from the House. I advise him to do this quickly, or he will soon be treated with the well-meritsd contempt

which follows Sir Julius Vogel. And as to Parliament, I think Parliament would do well to emancipate itself entirely from the leadership of Messrs Atkinson and Vogel, It is a great pity that Her Ma jesty the Queen has been so ill-advised as to decorate these two politicians with titles. The colony has yet to pay bitterly for their actions. However, I hope Parliament will take some steps to prevent the present exodus.—l am, &c., Coleman Phillips. Dry River, July 27.