Evening Post. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1892. MINISTERS AND GOVERNOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 43, 19 August 1892, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1892. MINISTERS AND GOVERNOR.

— ? If Ministers could be brought under tho dome of the Palace of Truth they would, wo ara convinced, bo fouud uniting in fervent praise of Lord Glasgow for his firmness and wisdom in delivering them from a great difficulty. Novor, probably, did a professional sundowner ask for work with a moro devout hope that he might not get it than did tho Premier ask to bo pormitted to mako the twelve nominations to the Legislative Council, earnestly desiring that tho prayer might be refused. Ho would have been in a terriblo quandary had the Governor proved complaisant and asked tor the names of the favoured dozen. Tho publication of theso namos would havo been tho signal for tho ronding of Ministers to pieces by the hordes of disappointed expectants. For each one of the dozen "called," at least a dozen would have beon loft lamenting over broken promises. Their wrath would havo beon terriblo. Lord Glasgow deserves tho warmest gratitude of Ministers for saving them from tho consequences of the liberal promises they have made of seats in the Council. His Excellency, however, has not only saved them in this respect, but he lias also ministered to their dearest wishes in supplying them with a good grievance and a cry against the Legislative Council. They really owo much to His Excellency, but of courso no open manifestation of thoir gratitude is to be expected under tho circumstances. Tho discreet and diplomatic silonco which they observed last night on Sir George Grey's littlo Bill to provido for tho Glootion of Governors was highly significant. Even tho taunts of the Opposition failed to draw Ministers, and although some of them voted for tho Bill, the Premier had the decency not only to abstain from doing so, but to pair against it. The Bill was really not entitled to any serious consideration, and most of those who voted for it did so in the same way that members used to vote for the reduction of tho honorarium, with the full conviction that their votos would be of nono effect. There never was a time in the history of New Zealand when such a proposal was less opportnne than the present. Putting other and larger considerations aside, where would we at present find a suitable man in public life in this colony to fill the offico of Governor P Apart from Sir George Grey himself, there is no one who would bo fitted for the office. It is difficult enough to find qualified men to fill the public positions alroady at tho disposal of the people. There is no over-supply of men fit to bo Premier or Ministers, or even members. The colony has to put up with very indifferent material

indeed in filling its prp-,ent elective offices. For a "till higher p'.*i';oTi the difficulty of selection would lif ii.linitoly greator. Tho struggle which goe* on now for place and pay— tho waßteof public time and money in useless Party conflict-^-should be sufficient to deter anyone from wishing to enlarge the limits of Party strife, by throwing down a Governorship to be wrangled and fought for by local politicians. Few people will be inclined to agree with Mr. O'Conoe who, apparently, thinks the best way of doing away with Party Government is to enlarge the arena of Party strife, offer a rich additional prize, and mako the highest office in the State a subject for Party contest. The logic of such reasoning ib not very clear. We do not think it is at all probable that this colony will ever abandon Party Government or desire to be ruled by a Party politician as Governor.