Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25. 1890.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 149, 25 June 1890, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25. 1890.

The debate on the addiess iv reply came to a oloso at an early hour this mormug, aud no one will regret that ifc is over. The time devoted to xt has boon practically thrown away, for precisely the same thiugs will be repeated iv the debate on the Financial Statement, which is fcho legifcimate occasion for discussing the policy aud administration of tho Government. The whole couutry is anxious fco heat' whafc the Treasurer has to say in what there is too much reason to fear will be his last- Budget, bufc instead of having thafc laid before thorn, as was promised, last; Friday, fchey have beeu compelled to listen to a purpoaeless debate. This haviug been cleared away, we may now expect to gefc fche Statement. After that what is to follow ? Iv tho present highly unsatisfactory state ot affairs this is a question that no oue cau answer. The colouy Buffers from a sad lack of meu who have the ability, the inclination, aud tho time to admiuisfcer its affairs. The Government has for the last three years been run by Sir Harry Atkinson. He has many admirers, bufc there are also very many who do nofc believe in him as a leader, and who would have gladly combined to eject him from office did they but kuow whom to put iv his place. As for parties, they do not exist. There is no broad line of demarcation separating one section of politiciaus from anothor, co that ifc is no consideration of tbia kind that keeps any particular set of men out of office. We quite believe that if any strong, able, honest man were to come to the front he would gather around him supporters from all sides of the Houae who would be only too glad to find a leader in whom they could put their trusfc. Afc present; there ie this very unpleasant — we might almost say alarming— fact to be faced, fchat no such mau is to be found within the Parliament, nor is there any reasonable ground for hoping thafc matfcei'3 iv this particular respect will be bettered after tho approaching general election. _ Let any one who has beeu iv tho habit of payiug attention to public affairs aud carefully following fche proceedings of Parliament sit down for an hour and try to think of auy one of our public tneu who takes so

Unquestionably prominent a position in the esteem of tho public, or of any largo section of the House* aB to entitle him to be regarded as fche coming man. We may be accused of taking too gloomy a view of the situation, bub it is ono that has forced itself upon us, and vre should be only too pleased if a brighter one could be suggested. Representative Government is undoubtedly just now upon its trial in New Zealaud. How ifc will stand the test we shall probably see within fche course of the next year or two, bufc it seems to us fchafc unless au improvement sets in from some unexpected quarter, ifc will come out of tliß ordeal somewhat badly. In the meantime we can but hope thafc the general election, which is so near at hand, may result in the return fco Pari iam cut of a body of men who fully realise bhe responsibilities which attach to the positions they occupy, and whoße sole object in view will be the promotion of the well being of a country which jusfc now is suffering very severely from a want of leaders.