MR WARD'S PLAIN DUTY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8999, 11 January 1895, Page 4

MR WARD'S PLAIN DUTY.

Oub morning contemporary thinks that, tbe Colonial .Treasurer ban easily be spared from his official duties for four or five months, at a time when he ought to be pfeparitig his Budget, without the country being a penny the worse. Thie< is % decidedly backhanded compliment/ to Mr. Wabd, which that gentleman may be left to settle with his journalistic defender. Our contemporary, , in casting about for a precedent, is a little unfortunate in its choice, Jt,ia true Sir George Dibb3 went Home while he was in office. W<» bare; jet 1~ to learn, "how ever, that New Soutlt Wales derivec. any benefit from his visit either in point of prestige o; , otherwise. When he came back ho , had to face a imge deficit and a howl o I unpopularity, and expulsion from office promptly -followed. Still, he seems to have had his consolation. -H& went Home plain Mr. Dibbs, an ardent Eadical with'strong-.Separatist —-almoatred Bepublican—>o6nvictioQs. He came back Sir Geohge Dibbs, and in hie case, as in, soma others, a Knighthood worked wonders. There is nobody now lose revolutionary or more devoted to the Throne than the late Treasurer of New South Wales. When the Lytielton Times says that the country ban do without Mr* Ward for four or five montba, we do not dispute the fact. We think it could do very welt without him tor all time. We ~only contend tliafc so long as Mr. Ward . occupies his present position he onght as a matter of honesty, to do the .work for which he is paid. Our contemporary, however, goes further., It apparently sees no harm in the Colonial Treasurer if be so chose, going in ior Companypromoting on a large scale, and continuing to bold office vA the aaiae time.

If the British investor gets confused between Mr. Ward's publio and private positions, ,ifc is really of no consequence. The " poor muddled British investor, ,, we are told in effect, must look after himself. The reputation of the colony, we presume, is likewise of no importance. We have been accustomed to come queer political and commercial morality from*time to time in the columns of our contemporary, but on this occasion it eeems to have gone further than usual. Such sentiments will certainly find no favour with the publio. Even the Ministry, however, appear to have some feeling of compunction about a point which our contemporary swallows with such equanimity. It is now semiofficially hinted that Mr. Ward may not go at* all. Wβ presume this is owing to qualms of conscience. True, it is announced id our cable news that Mr. Valehtinte's proposed Company has had to be abaudoned. But this must be merely a coincidence. In any case, if Mr. Ward goes Home at all ou his private affairs he certainly ought to go in a purely private capacity.