NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Hastings Standard, Volume III, Issue 805, 13 December 1898, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Speaking at Gisborne last night the Right Hod. E. J. Seddon remarked that so long as the country remained prosperous and his party did their duty, he wished to remain in office. In an earlier part of his address he acknowledged Poverty Bay to have been a most neglected district. If Mr Seddon has neglected Poverty Bay, can he be said to have done his duty ? If it is his duty to be neglectful, are the people going to further tolerate him ? If, on the other hand, bis duty is to be mindful of the interests of every electorate, why has he allowed Poverty Bay to be neglected ? As on his own admission, he has neglected an obvious duty, he has, on his own admission also, no desire to remain longer in office. Mr Seddon says he is not in love with the Napier-Gisborne connection. Why, then, has he allowed a survey of a line between these two places to be made ? He says his Government has not gone in for a " borrowing or squandering policy." But if money has been expended in an useless survey, what is this but squandering ? People in the northern portions of Hawke's Bay may now disband all their Railway Leagues and relax all their efforts, for the Premier has proclaimed that in sending along a surveyor he is only fooling them. The policy of the Opposition has been described by Mr Seddon as the " Wait till the clouds roll by " policy. What construction are we to place upon the word " clouds" ? If it is the clouds of dust that he is constantly throwing in the eyes of the public, then we fully appreciate the joke. It is sincerely to be hoped that the clouds may speedily roll" by, " The Opposition had not proved a single charge against the Government." So said Mr Seddon at Gisborne last night. The Government has been charged with packing the Civil Service with its immediate friends, with appointing Justices of the Peace for political reasons, with making billets for followers of the Party, with pandering to classes, with corruption in every Department. Each of these charges has been proved up to the hilt, with dozens of others, and Mr Seddon knows it. The country is progressing, according to the Premier, because there has been an increase in the number of depositors in the Savings Bank, and an increase in savings. Does Mr Seddon not know that people are afraid, under his legislation, to invest their capital, and that this is the reason for the increased deposits in the Savings Bank ? Is this an indication of prosperity ? The Premier, who stated last night in one breath that the Opposition had no policy, stated in another that Captain Russell wanted to introduce a " breeches pocket policy, a means of corruption for the purchase of support." The Premier can rest satisfied that the Leader of the Opposition has no desire to emulate the example set by Mr Seddon. He is too patriotic, too high-minded for that. In saving the Bank of New Zealand the Premier claims that the Government had only one object—patriotism and the responsibility they felt for the people of New Zealand. Yes, it wa? exceedingly patriotic. And certain people no doubt impressed upon Mr Seddon his responsibility towards them. But the masses are groaning, and will continue to groan, under a burden of several millions which the Premier and his party unnecessarily placed upon their shoulders. The public of Hastings will appreciate the concession made by the Railway Department of excursion trains between Hastings and Napier on Saturdays. It will not, however, appreciate the method in which the concession was obtained. The Department was ■written to by C&pt&in EusseUj y/hQ

received a reply that the request could not be granted. Then the Minister was approached by certain supporters of the Government, and the concession was immediately made. This fact will doubtless be used as a weapon against Captain Russell at some future time. Unless we mistake the character of the electors, however, it will militate against the Government. It is a cruel piece of tyranny and coercion to repudiate the claims of a district because they happen to be represented by an Oppositionist.