The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1883.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6868, 5 March 1883, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1883.

“ 4 Wanted, a Policy: * by the Coming Premier,*' ia the real title of the approaching eerica of lectures announced from the Government Press, There are, we are teld, many Important public questions “only partially understood, dimly perceived, and vaguely thought about." At the seme time it is freely whispered in political circles that the Premiership is proving a burden too heavy for Mr Whitaker to. bear much longer. When his star sets in the political firmament the star of Atkinson is to shine as the star of the first magnitude in the Cabinet, If it bo true, as everybody seems to believe, that Major Atkinson will once more be Premier, the aptness of the opportunity he has created for arousing public opinion will be at once evident. It ia always a bold idea for a statesman, and the statesman who does it, by his own free will, often is rewarded by seeing the newly-awakened feeling arrayed on his side. But that success comes only to the man who has ideas of bis own, which he obstinately believes in and wants others to believe in likewise. That, however, la not Major Atkinson's mode of operation. It was so once, when he championed the cause of Abolition with a firmness then truly regarded as characteristic. But Abolition seemed to have exhausted his energies. When the country after the destruction of its Constitution stood in need of a policy of re-construction, the destroyer called out for a period of political rest. Tho aspiration was fatal to him. Taught by that sad mischance, ho guided his conduct after his return to power, on different principles. He once again adored action, but ho adored advice more. After he and hie friends had lived on the ideas of their predecessors, Royal Commissions were appointed, •quipped, and sent over the face ol the

country, while Ministers «nj:yed their summer holidays nod autumn plea* sores in tho serene belief that» policy would bo found. Unhappily* tile advice of the Oommiesions proved for the most part unsuitable. What was too heroic was inconvenient* and what was sot inconvenient was too simple and dear for tho everyday use of statesmen, la tho fulness of time* » brilliant substitute suggested itself. The Colonial Treasurer boldly ashed tho public for suggestions on a hundred different subjects—and *hat is mors got them. Last 'year ho addressed the public by circular. On the present occasion ho comes in person, |Wo ore to hear Major Atkinson discourse de ontnibm rchun et quibtudwn dii*, after which the Major will be glad to hear "alternative suggestion.” •• Wanted a policy,*' is to bo heralded with the ingenuous preface of the American satirist— 0 Them’s my perlitiole opinions, gentlemen. But if you don’t like ’em I’m ready to alter ’em all as required.” We trust that the Treasurer will not confine his remarks entirely to the future. Of course tho only “ alternative suggestion” about the past that is possible or practicable is that in other hands the past might have been much better, and this suggestion Is open to a corollary important enough to lead to a change of- Government. As that is not the kind of alternative which the Troasurer is seeking for, we may not have any references to the past. But this is not the only aspect of the situation. He considers that many things are imperfectly understood. Wo quite agree with him. Bor instance, we very imperfectly understand the principle on which tho railways are managed, and the system which governs the apportionment of the public expenditure. Wo very imperfectly understand how it is that while it was wrong for one Government to go near tho Native King, and ssbmit to the presence of “murderers,” it can ho right for another to pursue the King with outstretched hands, and to give free pardons to the other worthies, Wo imperfectly understand tho reasons for tho different treatment of To Kooti and ft Whiti. Wo imperfectly understand tho policy under which the promiss not to grant amnesties, except on j certain conditions—obvious to all minds of ordinary loyalty —has been broken* We imperfectly understand the working of the Native Besoms Act ; and of the success of the Bonds Construction Act, and its companions in the misfortune of three years’ continued hostile unanimity of criticism, we have the vaguest possible notions. In all these things we believe it will be pretty generally admitted that we are not singular. If Major Atkinson wants to array public opinion on his side he wilt see the necessity of full explanation upon these topics. Should be elect to wait for hie defence until the appeal to the people after that defeat in Parliament, which he evidently fears, he may find himself the Coming Premier no longer. There is one ’subject in connection with which Major Atkinson deserves to be treated with honour. He is the first public man who has -made a serious attempt to carry the |gtest ideas upon the question ofNational Assurance into practical politics. We cannot say we see our way to the approval of the proposals he made last year, but of his object there cannot be two opinions. Major Atkinson recognises that the great problem of the-statesman in a new country is the discovery of some method of counteracting the tendencies of the old world civilisations. When a man takes op the problem of poverty «with a determination to find a eolation by which poverty, as it is known in the wealthiest cities of the world, shall be known no more, he is entitled to the respect of his fellow men: Wo observe that Major Atkinson’s second* lecture is to be devoted to this question. Whether this means that he will givgus something different to what he gave na last year, or that he will merely add to his explanations of last session, we are, of coarse, not aware. One thing, however, is certain. For the sake of the object he has in view, as well as on account of the earnestness with which ho has set himself to its attainment, Major Atkinson is sore of attentive audiences. If he can—as we fear is improbable—justify bis scheme, every man of good feeling in the country will rejoice. If he fails, he will, at all events, have the conscious* ness of having caused people to think seriously on a serious subject, as well as of having aroused interest in a question which it grows every day mote perilous to leave untouched.