CRUMBS FROM THE MASTER'S TABLE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 7

CRUMBS FROM THE MASTER'S TABLE.

There is hardly a day passes that the people of New Zealand have not brought home to them the farreaching effects of tbe " Spoils to Vic-tors" policy, that is the main plank in the Ministerial programme. _he Ministry have been kept in offioe by rewarding their political supporters, and having once entered upon such a career they cannot stop. Two small appointments made show how in even small matters this policy is given effect to. Lieut-Colonel Pitt, of Nelson, is made Commander of the ; military contingent, or "guard of I honour" to the Premier on his visit to England. Mr. Pitt is a very estimable , gentleman, who has, we believe, taken, a I great interest in Volunteering. He gome acquaintance with artillery and infantry, but, so far as we know, he has had no exporience whatever with cavalry or | mounted rifles. He is, however, chosen to command a corps of . mounted rifles. Why is this ? Mr. Pitt has been exceedingly useful to the Ministry at Nelson. When they required someone to support them, to. move votes at the close of Mr. S_u>jwk's long-winded speeches, or to do j work of any sort, Mr. Pitt -could-* be relied on. And now -Mr. i got a crumbfrom his master'setable. Then Mr. Larnach has been appointed a Special Commiss-oner tothei Queensland Exhibition ihat-is to openin May next, and he has had a private Secretary granted to assist him m practically doing nothing. There was no need of any special Commissioner. The appointment is unnecessavy and 19 ft q£ pnbliq mpwsy. \V_ty _u_3 _—_-. X_u_—r_.e_c b——__ chosen ? A. £^ls__——, _._ T-.T— ]3<>_i—ix_—. i3t__-c>_y-—L—E___tg-tbe past few years win explain -fc_te ______t. in I__B Mr. I____«__h stood

practically-as a supporter of Sir BQabhy Atkinson. He opposed the Labour party and its doings, and he was defeated by Mr, Eaju-*s?iaw. Some years later he. was elected for Tuapeka, after Mr. P.i_e's death. He-.then. e_m,e out as a fuU-blowxt Seddonit-.-1. ih.'L__. .l-_ii-ii h_ m Again ft,. Seddonian candidate for T_.apeka ami m returned by a narrov* majority. He was one of the Colonial Bank Directors, arid was chosen as one 1

6. tho liquidate by the _ha,_eholcle-_, ! and it was no secret that one member *{ the Ministry canvassed hard for ■wm.' His Honour Mr.. Justice Wii.----*-u_rs declined to confirm his apppintJjant, Mr.LARNActi has remained ft. fennoNiAN, and for his political ser'wes it was generally anticipated he *»ouldreceive some reward. There were janours of the Bank Auditorship, &c, , ««• nothing came of these. At last a crumb has been given, for which Mr. ««wach will no doubt feel grateful. Mr. PrtT hag-got his jaunt to England '__? •*-** ARNACH bas his trip, with jP»vate Secretary attached, to Brisbane. We wonder what the bill will to. We know that it cost the colony over £1000 to send a delegate to ***uada, and a supine House never •utßGdlor tbe items. It is thus that Mr. Seddon distri- . rotes crumbs to those who flock round Jis table, and it is thus that colonial wnds are used for political and party «-ds. The Parliament has not sanewoued the sending of any Commissioner to Queensland, nor has Mr. ««sach any special knowledge of our •uw-s-"_ies-<>r our commerce thatwould Pwnt him out as the most suitable-jepreae-itative. Mr. Labnach has, oowevser, two great qualifications. He «a member of the House, and he is to obedient follower of Mr. Seddon. *-**•*» there be any surprise, then, expressed as to how he has got thistroinb ?