The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1892. GOVERNOR AND APPOINTMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3155, 23 June 1892, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1892. GOVERNOR AND APPOINTMENTS.

The action of Governor Q-lasgow in so decidedly refusing to make up vacancies in the Legislative Council, and granting additions sufficient to ensure a fair working attendance, has come as a clap to general anticipations. He has had sufficient time to inform himself, apart from his responsible advisers, that by deaths, absence from the colony or increasing debility on the part of a considerable portion of the Conncillora, and generally by the small attendances for consideration of the many important legislative measures set before them last session, that there is absolutely no other course open than to increase the number of Councillors. His action indicates intention to judge and act for himself. This was the prominent objection urged against the appointment of a quarter-deck officer, whose position during the active service period of life had been of a nature that practically made his own sweet will law. That is the navy rule. A captain is King in his own ship. He is independent of control, and takes all responsibility, and the Governor has shown by his present refusal to take the advice of his Ministerial advisers that he is still prepared to act very much for himself. His leanings will undoubtedly be in favour of perhaps a too high standard Conservativism to suit colonial ideas, more especially in the nresent transition state of political tendencies. He may justly plead that he has not yet had time to become acquainted with the trend of opinion in New Zealand, and that he has not come in personal contact with the leading public men in sufficient numbers to know how far the names submitted may be fairly representative of the community at large. He may not care to take the view that a balance ib required in the Council ; that already there is too much of the fogey element, who are grown beyond the influences which are the mainspring to action in younger men, but may hold tbat no matter how lop-sided the Council may at present be, he must in any new appointments be careful to give a fair bite to each side. The plea that there is already too much of the Conservative in the Council, as is sure to be represented by the Ministerial advisers, and that what is wanted is a real balance within the Council to enable progressive legislation to be f orwarded.and not the picking one from each side to keep a fair balance of in-going Councillors, may carry no weight with Governor Glasgow. There may be other good reasons, from the Governor's point of view, for refusal. He may prefer to make a thoroughly tair start in his new rile, and be of opinion that by refusing to take Ministerial advice, and thus forcing a dissolution and fresh election, he will be in a position to watch the conflict, and thereby be enabled to gauge with thorough accuracy the political weight of all parties and every shade of opinion.

>This will prove expensive for the colony, and yet from the Governor's side may be considered the quickest and surest method o£ getting the colors up.