A Recreant Cabinet Minister
Tun Hon. Thos. Dick has been an ornamental mombcr—and not much at that— of tho Atkinson Government; wo should say he still is a membor of tho Cabinet, woro it not that Mr Dick himself Beoms unaware of the fact, or desirous of ignoring it. Addressing his constituents last night and
" .speaking as a private membor," ho intimated that ho was out of harmony with tlio views of his colleague, on somo matters, and that on the re-assembling of Parliament ho might bo found ranged on tho side of tlio Opposition. After this candid confession of his intention of deserting what ho bolioves to bo a .inking ship, it is amusing to find Mr Dick posing as a paragon of. political purity, and condemning nil party tactics having for thoir object, the securing of tlio emoluments of ollico. It looks too much liko condemning in the pnrty what ha allows in tho individual; lor no reasonable man doubts that Mr Dick means to bid for ollico undor tho now Government, which, whatever its constitution, will bo in his eyes all that could bo dosirod if it only allows him still to bo " Vicar of Bray." This somewhat sanctimonious Minister has, however, clearly over-shot the mark. Ho forgots that tho presont Ministry hold ollico until their successors are appointed, and that it is thoroforo impossible tor him to speak ut present as a private member. Ho spoaks as a Minister— as ono of tlio Cabinet who havo appealed to tho country for approval of thoir policy and administration ; and sinking in tlio way ho lias done, lie is guilty of an act of political treachery and treason about as despicable as could bo imagined. If ho was so far out of harmony with his colleagues prior to tlio dissolution, ho ought to havo resigned his portfolio ; and if, ns seems moro probable, ho only found out the fact after tho Ministerial defeat, it was his plain duty to havo kopt his lips sealed on tlio subject, .0 far as public utterances woro concerned. In acting as ho has dono, Mr Dick may calculate upon obtaining a littlo passing popularity among thoso who are always ready to worship tho rising sun ; but over the colctiy the verdict upon him will bo that bo has effectually damned his political reputation and ruined his prospects of success in public life by a cowardly desertion of his colleagues at an important crisis in tho country's history.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4416, 9 July 1884, Page 2
Word Count
415A Recreant Cabinet Minister Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4416, 9 July 1884, Page 2
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