Wellington Press Criticisms.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 203, 31 August 1887, Page 5

Wellington Press Criticisms.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.)

Wellington, this day. Both evening papers criticise the Premier adversely in connection with the letter to the Agent-General. The "Post's" article concludes thus: — "The only legitimate ground for amazement in the matter is that Sir Robert Stout should have written such a letter. His colleagues may be amazed that he should have done so without their knowledge. Hiparty may well be amazed that theii chief j should take such a gloomy view of their, prospects, and the country may above allj be amazed and astonished that the Premier] should have advised the Governor to dis-j solve Parliament, and to have incurred the' necessity of a second session of Parliament within the year, unless he had an honest and full belief that the adverse vote of the existing House did not represent the opinion of the country, and that if he was allowed to appeal to the electors he would return with his hands strengthened. Such a belief was tacitly implied in the advice given to the Governor to dissolve,, and if the Premier, as would seem from the j tenor of his letter to Sir Dillon Bell, did not) entertain that belief, then he committed a! great constitutional wrong in giving the; advice he did. Instead pf advising a dissolution, and putting the country to the enormous expense of a second session, j merely that he might be able to retain office for a few months longer until' the ballot-box should confirm the verdict of the House, he should at once have accepted the latter. Sir R. Stout's marvellous indiscretion, to use the very mildest term applicable, in this matter is, we are sorry to say, calculated to injure the credit of the colony at Home, and will undoubtedly strengthen the hands of the opponents of the Ministry in the colony during the pending election." The "Press" has a vicious article to^a similar effect, in which it maintains that Sir Robert Stout's own admissions confirm bhe truth of the version of the letter to the Agent-General cabled by the Press Association.