Is Auckland Awake?

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4130, 27 September 1883, Page 2

Is Auckland Awake?

Is tho Chamber of Commerce moribund ? Are our merchants yet aware that tho destinies of Auckland mo committed to tho keeping of tnUli who havo combined to shut our commcrco from tho West Coast, and isolate the city from tho rest of tlio North Island for tho next ton years ? ))o they forget tlmt the Wot'k of settling our lands, which has gone on with rapid strides, giving an impulse to commcrco and industry, mfty at any moment bo stopped? That the men who now control tho Government are tho .same who endeavoured to cripple the Auckland collieries by refusing n tender at half tho plieo paid to a Middlo Island colliery company ? Are tho pooplu heedless of the fact that tlio shutting out oj Auckland from the Cabinet in 1864—tho only instance on record-whs tho prelude to the removal of tho float of Government and other commercial disasters ? Is Auckland awake ? These thihgs havo been gazetted publicly four dayo ago, and yet no stir; shorter time should havo seeit tho effigies of tho ar'ch-conspirdtors blazing on every bill around the city. What is ths liVcoiliti'jj of the unwonted and dangerous apathy? Where is the public notice from .Mr Swanson (keeper of the compact with the Auckland Four), declaring the bond forfeit, and vowing to avenge tho chicanery of Mnjov Atkinson ? Where is the intimation from Mr Peacock convening his constituents for tho purposo of clearing himself of tho suspicion of being either a cortwmting party to the trick, too dull to discern its portent, or too weak to resist it ? Where is Mr Hurst's vindication of his vaunted shrewdness and zeal in the interests of Auckland commorco ? If those gentlemon would establish their honesty and worthiness to hold their positions as Auckland representatives lot them tako one of tho theatres and denounce tho action of tho Government They will linda willing and enthusiastic audience, and a ready following, for the electors have novci1 heretofore ha, 1 cause to charge them with being disloyal to Auckland interests, or too imbecile to protect them. Tho time will soon arrive when the disclaimer which should come from their lips will pass into the hands of others. Can tlwy bo silent while even tho Wellington Press is constrained to cry out against the injustice done to Auckland ? With regard to the r.sslstanco tendered fi'om this unexpected quarter, however, Major Atkinson wtndd bo tenfold moro foolish if he believed for an instant that Auckland might bo quieted with tho concession shadowed in the " Post's " leader (published in another column), and put out as a feeler in a telegram to the "Herald" to-day. Only soven paid Ministers aro allowed by law, and the nomination of an Auckland member of the Upper House to a scat in the Executive without portfolio would be an uttor sham. Surely there is no Auckland man, having a modicum of brains, who would be imbecile enough to place himself insofalse a position. If thero bo, he-may rely upon it that his gratified vanity will bo dearly paid for in the contompt of the people, and that his appearance as a dummy in the Executive will not .save the Ministry from popular wroth, or prevent his own name from being branded with infamy as a traitor to Auckland. Wo demand no moro than a bare right in insisting upon real representation, and that, too, by a member of the House of Representatives! It was a condition of tho famous or infamous compact of the Auckland Four that an Auckland j member of tho Lower House should bo granted a portfolio in addition to the one hold by Mr Whitaker. That condition was never fulfilled, chiefly, perhaps, because none of tho Four would accept oflico in tho provalent condition of public feeling. Mr Whitakcr's representation of Auckland as a member of the Legislative Council was barely tolerable, and only submitted to bocauso ho held the Premiership and with it tho lifo of tho Ministry, and because of his.great personal influence and experience. But we lay no claim to tho Premiership for the Minister from Auckland now, and there is no Mr Whitaker among the available members of the Auckland team. There are, however, men with quite as much talent as five out of sevon members of the present Cabinet. We are told that it is Mr Johnston's intention to resign at his convenience. Why not resign now ? The interests of two-thirds of the North Island are of greater moment than soven months' pay to a Minister who is performing work which his successor will have to defend. The portfolio of Public Works which he holds fairly belongs to Auckland. Since the borrowing policy was inaugurated by Sir Julius Vogel, fourteen ♦ears ago, the Ministry of Works •has been held by Canterbury in six Ministries ;by Otago in two Ministries; by Hawke's Bay, in two Ministries ;by Wellington in the present Ministry. It is full time that Auckland, comprising nearly two-thirds of the North Island in area and population.should receive a turn. Wellington virtually holds three seats in the present Cabinet, Mr Conolly beinrr to all intents and purposes a Wellington man, with Wellington sympathies and interests. It is in the highest degree improper that the seat of Government should wield such a controlling voice in tho Executive, and no Government so constituted can command tho confidence of any class of Auckland people. We call on our representatives to beware of compromising themselves by accepting anything short of a real and satisfactory representation of the North by a member of tlio House of Representatives in the Ministry with portfolio ; and to doclwo publicly their determination to wring

this right from the Government at once, or tender the electors some reason why they may fail to do that, and yet give thensupport to tho Atkinson Cabinet. The matter at issue is too momentous to bojnot by an attitude of "masterly inactivity."