MR WARD'S MYSTERIOUS MISSION.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Issue 115, 15 February 1895, Page 4

MR WARD'S MYSTERIOUS MISSION.

(Wei.lixgtox Post.) If it is an old-fashioned method of trying to throw dust in the eyes of tho public to indignantly contradict a statement which has never been made. Tho Ministerial organ resorts to it to-day in an attempt to cover up Mr Ward's Homeward tracks. It says : ' A. specific statement has been made, for some purpose or other, that the Premier was much astonished to hear of Mr Ward's intention to proceed Home on private business. That statement we have authority for describing as absolutely without a shadow of foundation.' No such specific statement has been made. Hero is our specific statement, which wo ropeat—! Pressing requirements of his privatebusiness arrangements, possibly in some measure in their relation to his public position, demanded that he should visit England. The matter was not brought before the Cabinet prior to tho Christmas dispersion of Ministers. The proposal was anticipated in certain financial circles, but was not mentioned even to tho Premier. Tho first Mr Seddon heard of tho proposal was the reeoipt of a telegram from Mr Ward announcing that ho required to visit England. Another Minister has publicly stated that the first he knew of any proposal of the kind was seoing it announced in our columns.' Mr Seddon may or may not have beer ' much astonished' when he rccer edMr Ward's telegram. We did. not and do not think it worth while to speculate regarding his feelings. Wo again assort that the suggestion that Mr Ward should go Home on public business was not before Cabinet before the Christmas dispersion of Ministers, and that tho first the Premier heard of his colleague's intention of visiting England was by a telegram from Mr Ward, Mr Seddon himself openly stated this during his holiday trip. Mr Ward's intended visit to England was decided upon by Mr Ward to meet the exigencies of bi3 own private affairs. The idea of giving him a mission on public business was an afterthought, intended to xemove the objections urged to the original proposal, and at the samo time afford an excuse for Mr Ward retaining bia seat in the Ministry and travelling at the public expense. Ministers must bo very hard pressed to find a plausible excuse when they suggest through their organ that Mr Ward is to negotiate personally about the Vancouver steam services and the Rjd Line Pacific service. Now Zetland lias no independent standing in these matters. Its position is only a detail of general scheme, tho negotiation of which will be in tho hands of properly accredited representatives of the Australasian colonies and Cauada and the contractors. London is not the place wliere'any negotiation specially con -1 cerning New Zealand will be —" at present be, carried on. I 1 Mr Ward going linnr- about tiese motors is utt . ridiculous, H(V has no j'egiViuiaie public reason for going to England, whatever fictitious \iission may utterly be invented for liirn to deceive tho public. The absurdity of supposing that Mr Ward is entrusted with any complex or delicatenegotationa ou public business is further shown by tho fact that, according to the programma of his movements which has hoen published, he will only have 25 days in London, including tho days of arrival and departure. If lie leaves Melbourne by the Oruba next month he cannot arrive iu London, even if he travels with the mails, until 27th March, aud if he is to return by the San Francisco mail boat ariifing iu the colony in May, he must leave London ou 20th April. Mr Ward may do , his own business in London iu thrre weeks, but the time would not suffice for much negotiation on publicbusiness ' of a difficult, delicate, and secret nature. It is a pity Mr Ward and uis colleagues ind tools cannot tell the truth about this mission of his, eveu if in so doing they should sbanie— ! themselves.