Mr. Wakefield Before his Constituents.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4530, 5 December 1884, Page 4

Mr. Wakefield Before his Constituents.

Is*, his address "at Leeston on Monday night, Mr E. Wakefield, M. H.R." for Selwynj defended his action in the: course-'of'last session of Parliament. He said that after the resignation of the Atkinson Ministry at the beginning of the session intrigues were rife, buthe (Mr Wakefield) had nothing to do with them. He had not intrigued for office, and. had no. spoken to Sir J. Vogel till after the fitst Stout Ministry was formed, and then at the request of Mr Harper, and; on ; the invitation of Sir J. Vogel. He told Sir J. Vogel that he could not support the Stout-Vogel - Ministry without stultifying himself. He had written Sir Julius Vogela letter saying that he could not support a combination of Stout with Vogel, but all except himself had subsequently withdrawn from the opinion expressed in the letter. They wduld thus see if any members had changed line and altered tactics, it was not the member forSelwyn. (Applause).. He. had promised _ to follow the leader selected at a'parfy '■'• meeting,' but no such 'meeting took place. After the first Stout-Vogel Ministry was defeated, confusion in the. House was greater than oyer. Major Atkinson, called a meeting off all independent men, and after consulting his friends, Mr Wakefield found he had no. option but to , take his share of the risks and unpleasant: ness of going into office with Major Atkinson. So far from being ah office-seeker, he sacrificed himself, well knowing that his political career would be injured for years. In reply to a question Mr Wakefield said tho shortest-lived administration.in New Zealand was the~ Atkinson-Wakefield, but "the good die young." Major Atkinson had been wrong in saying that he (MrWake- ' - field) would be found following him in a majority, because Major Atkinson: was in a minority when he followed him. (Laughter.) The speaker got a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.