The Press. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1897. THE PREMIER'S BREACH OF FAITH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 6

The Press. SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1897. THE PREMIER'S BREACH OF FAITH.

( There has been a good deal of coot* : men, respecting Captajn Russell's I attitude to the Premier's trip With his " guard of honour," to use _fiv Chamberlain's phrase. Many Qpp?; 1 sitionists think that Captain Russfflft,; was too easily led into a support of all that: the Premie, asked. He accepted Mr Seddon's suggestion - 'to meet him, and arrange as to hpj*/ ■'Mr. Seddon might get to England."We will not discuss for the present tbe question whether Captain Buss_x.ought to have entered into snob j negotiations at all, but it is quite clear ,- that, knowing with whbm he had to - deal, he was too trusting. He had ft private oral conference instead of co__-_ raunicating with the Premier m w.itfn_*This was a blunder which a man of. his word is apt to make, and Captain Russell committed that blunder. Mr. Skddon, however, admits that Captain RussEu. made these two, among?--other conditions, of his supports* that supply was not to extend beyon-J the SOth September, and second, that private members were not to bs barred from moving their motions. M_. Seddon says he did not agree to to* first condition. Captain Russell says he did, and further that he waa informed by telephone that the Cabinet also had agreed to his conditions. Mr. Seddon admits that he promised to tell Captftio Rusbeu. whether he and his Cabinet agreed to the condition mentioned, ana that he never told him. He admits, in fact, he broke his promise. Tha. Captain Russell was led to believe thai the 80th of September would be the date there is not the slightest, doubt. As to barring private members motions, we have a strongcorroboration • that the condition on this pouit was agreed to. The Premier delivered a speech at Danevirke at a banquet to Mr. Hall on the evening of the day in which he had met Captain Russell. The Premier hurried up to Danevirke by a speoial tram at . the colony's - expense to attend a banquet to one of his defeated supporters I In the report of that speech sent by the Press Association it 'V stated that private members' motions would not be barred. These motions,, were barred, and again the Premier otv the colony hroko his word. Capt&m Russell.wss misled and tricked. -*..''*; Whether it was wise for Cftptwa

Crj-JSBUi and the Opposition, after the tricks and breach of faith on the part of the Premier, to vote for or assist in the posing of any Bill during the special session is an open question. \Ve thiuk undor tbe circumstances the Opposition should have refused to jJree to the passage of any motion or 2y Bill until tho promises made by the Premier wore fulfilled. Twentyc j,-bfc members could easily have Hocked the business, and no member 0 f Parliament could have had a greater justification for so doing than *as afforded by the Premier's trickery gnd breach of faith. The Opposition adopted a generous method, and it is doubtful if such a method is the way to fight such a Premier as New Zealand unfortunately possesses. We may point out that not only were private members' motions for returns thr.t is for information regarding how the affairs of the colony are managed—blocked and refused, hut tbe few harmless and almost meaningless returns that the Ministry '' assented to were not furnished to the members. When ho got hi 3 j finance Bill through and he was independent of the Hou3e, Mr. Seddon Coolly informed the members that the returns that the Houso had ordered would be supplied next session! Tbua was tbe House trifled with and Parliament defied. He declined to give any returns about Ministerial expenses, or about the result of the tariff, or about the removal of magistrates, &c, &0., aud so Parliament was sent about its business without my information about tho doings of the Ministry during the past twelvo months. If the Parliament is to be treated during tho next session as it baa been treated during the past session tho Opposition must either take up-some firm and decided attitude or cease to call themselves Opposition. The Premier has hitherto been allowed to do as he pleases. He has tricked the Opposition and defied the House. It remains to be seen whether what has happened in the past is to bo repeated. Wo hope not.