THE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR CRITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8881, 18 May 1892, Page 5

THE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR CRITICS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. The following appears as part of a leader in the Times this morning, touching the subject-matter of my last message : —" Sir William Jervois is just now in the happy position of the man who has not been appreciated. Barkis was willing. He was ready either to be Governor or AgentGeneral, either to rule this colony or to serve it. Unluckily, an unsympathetic Ministry and an undeserving Colonial Otlico huvo preferred to allow the enterprising Sir William to languish in the ranks of the orticial unemployed ; thus it comes that Sir William, who only the other day was ready to be the London confidential agent of the Liberal Government, now goes out of his way to warn the Labour party against the men whose pay he was lately quite ready to take. He insults the Government, whose AgentGeneral lie wanted to be, by applying to them one of the most offensive expressions possible within the limits of decent discussion. We have nodoubt thattheGovernment, the Labour party, and the colony will alike receive Sir Win. Jervois' warnings and strictures with contemptuous equanimity. Then, unfortunately, they will make people remember that another critic of New Zealand and the Labour party, Mr. Forteseue, was a household officer of Sir Win. Jervois. Our readers will remember, no doubt, the episode of Mr. Fortescue leaving these shores a disappointed man. Had the New Zealand politicians upon whom he has since so severely reflected had sufficient discernment not to doubt about giving him the salary he wanted, then, of course, they and the colony must have been spared - a good ileal of magazine attack. The question is : What are the attacks of disappointed men like Sir Wm. Jervois and Mr. Fortescue worth? New Zealanders will also ask themselves whether a refusal to provide billets for gentlemen like these is often to be followed by our having to endure their patronage lectures and criticisms. It is possible that it may occur to some colonists that, if we are to have much of this sort of thing, we might as well pips'i tie our own Governors and our own Secretaries, and our own Aides-de-camp. Then, at any rate, we shall not have to endure being preached at or insulted by a sue cession of superior persons in the solemn assemblies of the Colonial Institute or the higher atmosphere of the London magazines."