The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1893.

Evening Star, Issue 9123, 2 May 1893, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1893.

The political situation brought about by the death of Mr Ballaxck has eventuated much as we anticipated, and as, indeed, might reasonably h#yo been .expected. The Ministry have been *eeonstructed under the honorable gentle-

The New Ministry.

man who for some months has been practically Premier, and who acted in that capacity during the greater part of last session. We have never been able to approve of the principles advocated by Mr Skdikjn, nor of his general conduct in the House and in departmental administration ; but it must be conceded that ho possesses force of character and natural abilities of no meau order, which have enabled him to triumph over circumstances. He has fairly earned, at the hands of the party to whose success he so largely contributed, the position which he has attained, and for the duties of which he has, in matters essential, proved himself fairly capable. Even more practically important is the fact that he has the entire confidence of the " Extreme Left' ; of the Ministerialist members of the House, and, there is good reason to think, of the classes throughout the country who support them. Amidst all the spallations and rumors —more or less wild—of the last few days, we have tailed to see how Mr Seddon could be passed'ovcr, except with his own full consent. We may be allowed to express the hope that the access of dignity and honor and the largely increased responsibilities may induce him to adopt a more moderate tone in his opinions, and more conciliatory methods in and out of Parliament. Accepting, as we needs must, the present dominance of hybrid Liberalism, the country, we think, may regard with complacency the constitution of the now Cabinet. The alternative —a Stolt Ministry—would not have been so satisfactory to the party, and would certainly have been especially distasteful to Auckland. Mr Waru, after the Premier, occupies the most important office in the Ministry, and wo are inclined to think, judging from his character and business capabilities, that he will prove a success as Treasurer, and carry out with ability the financial policy which may be adopted by the new Government, It seems to he taken for granted that the policy of Mr Pau.anck will be taken up and continued on exactly the same lines ; but this is by no means assured, and we should not be surprised to see an entirely new departure. One thing is quite certain: that under Mr Wam> the public accounts will 1)0 submitted to the House in a clearly intelligible form ; and we may look forward, in the Financial Statement, to a straightforward exposition of the financial condition of the Colony. It is pleasing to note that .Mr W.UU) is to continue the administration of the Post and Telegraph Departments, which he has conducted with signal success and with so much satisfaction to the public and the officers of the service. Mr W. P, Hkkves, rumors • and surmises to the contrary notwithstanding, remains in his old "offices. It would have been, under all the circumstances, a grave mistake to have shunted the honorable gentleman, whose place as Minister of Education it would hardly have been possible to fill from the ranks of the party, unless Canterbury had been excluded from representation in the Cabinet ; which, of course, would have been out of the question. In the conduct of the Education Department Mr I'kkves has shown himself exceedingly capable, reasonable, and distinctly loyal to the established system. This, in our view, is a matter of such supreme importance to the that, much as we disapprove of his political opinions, we are sinc.'rely glad that the portfolio of Education has been confided to him in the new (Jovei'iiment. Perhaps, as in the case of strong and heady wine, the more objectionable qualities of the honorable gentleman may be toned down by time, and he may come to form a more modest estimate of himself'. He has been so far the worst enemy to his own political reputation. The voice of Auckland, for some time loud jn remonstrance, has -been perforce attended to in the reconstruction of the Cabinet. Mr Thomas Thompson, one of the members for Auckland City, it is understood, will be offered a portfolio, probably that of " Public Works," which the Premier continues to hold temporarily. Mr Thompson has been some years in the House, but has never occupied il prominent position, and, except locally, is hardly known to the public. fie was origin/illy, wo believe, returned under the auspices of Sir GIX)HUE (Ihev, and is best known as chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, which position he has held for many years. As a perfectly untried man as regards official life, wo are somewhat surprised that he should be named for so important a . department as Works; but possibly 1 enough the Premier intends to keep the ! administration practically in his own hands, acting vicariously through the nomin.al Minister. ■••■•■