FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FKOM"THE POST"

PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS

Fifty years ago the leading columns of "The Post" were devoted chiefly to the political situation and the resignation from the Premiership of Mr. Whitaker. "It has long been well known that Mr. Whitaker was anxious to be relieved of the onerous responsibilities of the Premiership, and that he only retained office at the earnest desire of his colleagues until they were satisfied that his retirement would not seriously prejudice the interests of the colony and of his party," remarks one leading article. "Major Atkinson now succeeds to the position of Premier, and as it is understood that his late colleagues are still thoroughly in accord with him, we anticipate that there will "be no change in the personnel of the Cabinet." "Major Atkinson's weakness consists in his strength," remarks a leader on the following day. "He is an able, resolute, courageous man, accustomed to be deferred to by reason of these characteristics. He is supported by the largest Parliamentary majority that any New Zealand Ministry has ever yet commanded. Will he be able to refrain from utilising these facilities in forcing upon, tho country his own particular views in politics, which, although to him they may be unimpeachable articles of political faith, yet are to other.people simply crochets or fads? Hitherto, also, he has manifested a, decided preference for the 'fortiter in re' over the 'suaviter in modo' when dealing alike with friends or foes. Will he choose to restrain this inclination and reverse this preference? To us it appears that the future of this, his second Administration —its success or its failure —depends mainly, if not entirely, upon an affirmative answer to' these questions hcing given by the course of events:" . " Candidly we. must admit that we are not greatly surprised that the inclusion of no Auckland representative in the new Ministry should have excited considerable indignation in the.northern city," comments "The Post" a couple of days later. "It is a terrible comedown from owning the Prime Minister himself —and one who was the last man to be a mere cypher in any Government —to becoming absolutely Ministerless. ... A seeming slight has been offered Auckland, and unless the excitement now being sedulously fomented by the opponents of the Government .can be properly allayed by speedy redress of the grievance, it may afterwards prove to be impracticable to smooth Auckland's ruffled feathers.'' TROUBLE WITH NATIVES. "In reference to the destruction of beacons at Kawhia, Mr. Butler, of the Native Office, who had been sent to inquire into the matter, reports that on his arrival there in the Hinemoa he found that the beacons recently erected there by Captain Fairchild had been broken and taken to the beach opposite the township. They were considerably damaged, and will take some time to repair. Mr. Butler ascertained that one of the two chiefs who have been con-\ cer'ned in the destruction of the beacons had gone to 'Whatiwhatihoe with Tawhiao the Native 'King.' The other was still at Kawhia, and when called upon by Mr. Butler to assist at once in repairing and re-erecting the. beacons, answered that he could not do so without instructions from Tawhiao. These two chiefs are the same who pulled up a number of pegs on the road to Kawhia some time ago. It is believed that in both cases they acted at the instance of Tawhiao and some of his advisers belonging to the Waikato tribe. According to the latest information the beacons have as yet not been re-erected." Editorial comment on this episode is as follows: —"This news relative to the Native difficultyat Kawhia is very important and rather disquieting. No doubts now remain that Tawhiao directly instigated, or indeed personally ordered, the destruction of the beasons. It is also ascertained that he was induced to take this action simply as a 'try on' to see how far the Natives could go -with' safety in obstructing the Government. The delay in placing the Kawhia township in the market has had an unfortunate effect in giving the Maoris the idea that we were either afraid to act or were doubtful about our title. Accordingly, they have taken a step which, if not promptly "met by a counter-move on the part of the Government equivalent to distinct repudiation of the Native claims, and if permitted to go unanswered, would have amounted, by Native custom, to an assertion of Native claim or mana, and its admission by the Government." "A long and earnest consultation took place in Cabinet yesterday afternoon as to the best course to be taken, and the decision arrived at was of a very important character. It was determined, firstly, that Mr. Bryce should at once start for Kawhia; secondly, it was resolved to forward at once a strong force 'of Armed Constabulary to Kawhia; and, thirdly, it was decided to push on with' the sale of the Kawhia township with all possible expedition. The Government felt that at all costs must be nipped in the bud any nascent fancy on the part of the Natives that they could encroech with impunity. Any further interference or obstruction will be promptly and severely dealt with, but it is not anticipated that there will be any repetition^ now that the Government has shown its teeth." DIRECT STEAM SERVICE. "Sceptics as to the success of the Direct Steam Service and as to its important bearing on the interests of colonial trade, if any such sceptics longsr remain, might have had their doubts resolved by a very simple process during the last two or three days. They had only to go on to the Queen's Wharf and watch for a few minutes the proceedings alongside the New Zealand Shipping Company's chartered steamer Doric. A very cursory glance round would have sufficed to show the extensive and comprehensive character of the revolution in the import and export trade in process of being effected by this service. Any intelligent visitor could not fail to be struck, not only with the magnitude and variety of the special import trade conducted by this service of direct steamers, but also by the indications presented that this must rapidly and steadily develop. It is no small matter for drapers and milliners to be able to obtain the newest class of goods and the latest fashions with the utmost promptitude and without transhipment or other causes of delay being involved; for booksellers to receive their packages of magazines and periodicals with a.like directness and celerity, and similarly with other trades. Tho certainty and rapidity of this mode of conveyance, which has averaged about forty-eight days in transit for the first half-dozen boats, constitute an enormous advantage as regards those trades in which it is everything to be earliest in the field with the latest novelties. Jt is needless to expiate on the superiority of the position of the tradesman who has had his 'novelties for the new season' by direct steamer in forty-four to forty-eight days, over his neighbour ' who has trusted to a sailing ship which takes ninety to one hundred and twenty days, or to the roundabout and expensive route via Melbourrie, which has also the drawback of transhipment and the risk of 'crowding out' from the New Zealand steamer.