The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 25, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2749, 25 February 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 25, 1890.

Our Auckland evening contemporary, true to his rooted objection to Mr Bryce, has endeavoured, in a recent issue, to cast discredit on our member. He either cannot or will not understand that in choosing Mr tiryce as their representative, the electors of Waipa threw over all local considerations and chose one who is rather a colonial than a local representative. That their contidonce in him will not be misplaced, we and ail our follow electors, feel sure, carping criticism to the contrary notwithstanding. The Star says that if Mr Bryce were head of the State his course would differ very little from that which has been pursued by th<.' present Premier. Our contemporary then goes on to complain of lack of originality, and of making use of hackneyed illustrations. Now, originality is certainly one thing that Mr Bryce does possess. His mode of dealing with the corrupt native administration which obtained when he took over the duties of Native Minister, is evidence of that fact. He adopted a course entirely new. He left the beaten track of wheedling, coaxing and occasionally bullying—where the latter was deenied safe—so long trodden by his predecessors and struck out a new and more successful course of his own, thus commanding the respect of the natives as well as the approval of the country. Previous to his accession : to that office, the natives had little or no respect for. those officials who were connected with that Department. They found in Mr Bryce one wbo could be relied upon, whose word was his bond, and whose word was law. While stei-n andunbendin* in the line of duty, where such sternness was essential for the welfare of the colony, he was never cruel or unjust, and the natives know that they never had a more sincere friend, or truer conservator of their interests, than Mr Bryce. Critics say, the domain of originality is so circumscribed, if not indeed all exhausted, that originality of ideas, or at any rate language, is not to be expected ; that it is so in the Star's criticism of Mr Bryoe is very evident. The writer confines himself to vague aud hazy hints of lack of original conception in Mr Bryce, and falls back upon the hackneyed style of insinuation, rather than pointing out in a definite and dear manner where faults exist. There is no origina'ity in their complaint. that uo. details of retrenchment were given. Such vague charges ara very convenient .and very common as a stand-by, to fall back upon when nothing definite can * be charged. To the mind of qven the least intelligent listener in the hall it was very evident il,iat in the short, space of time at a disposal in a meeting that minute details of this sort *cou]d uot be given. TJi© subject is

so large that a speech could be delivered upon it alone. The same also applies to their charge of " vague allusions to some unshaped scheme, of lqeal government." The duties- which could with advantage lie relegated to local bodies have been so often explained in the columns of the press as on the public platfotin, that there was no need to take up the time of the meeting with their discussion. Many of us may differ with our member on the Property-tax question, but we nuisli do him the justice to say, that while he defends it as the niost suitable tax while our expendittork' requires • taxation, he does not admire it for itself. He thinks, and justly so, that savings in the cost of Government and some self-denial on tho part of .the public, would materially lessen and finally do away with the tax altogether. We believe such savings can be effected, and we believe that once in office again Mr Bryce is the man to effect them. As regards the statement that he would kick over the traces and make shipwreck of the Cabinet in the compass of one brief session, no one for a moment seriously entertains such a thought. The public, we believe, are becoming alive to the gravity of the situation, and they will return men who will aid rather than retard Mr Bryce in the work of economy. He trusts to the creation of a healthy public sentiment as the true incentive to economy; that sentiment has already shown itself in Waipa to be followed, we hope, by similar exhibitions in the other electorates. We have given a good indication of a healthy desire for retrenchment by electing unopposed the apostle of economy. He may take? courage from the. fact that he was returned not merely on the narrow lines of a member for Waipa, but on the broader principles of colonial representation, and in his every action that has for its object the lessening of expense and the promotion of the welfare of the colony, he will receive the approval of not only his constituents but the public generally. The force of example is very strong,'it,is atr axiom as truei politically as socially and we feel sure - that constituencies will * 'i?ot "be left behind in the patriotic example set by the electors of Waipa, and that they will elect men who will study the welfare of the colony as a whole, rather than confining their efforts solely to the cause of the district they represent. There is no ground for the statement that he would continue in the lines of the present ministry, he said plainly and unmistakably that while giving them credit for re- 1 trenchment they did not go far enough. This is a plain indication that he sees how. alterations could be effected, and he is prepared to effect them if given the opportunity, but in order to succeed in his object he must be backed up and assisted by public opinion, and as we are becoming alive to the fact that; such a course is absolutely necessary, such assistance we do not doubt will be freely accorded.