PELORUS GUARDIAN. TUESDAY, 14th MARCH, 1893. Men before Measures.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 4, Issue 20, 14 March 1893, Page 2

PELORUS GUARDIAN. TUESDAY, 14th MARCH, 1893. Men before Measures.

It appears to be a prevalent idea at this stage of the world’s history, even amongst prominent public men, that it is of more importance to have wise laws than wise men, hence, the oft repeated cry of “ Measures not Men.” We should have, thought that by this time it would have been discovered such an idea was erroneous, in fact, almost absurd. The ancients enacted some very wise laws, even wiser, when the conditions of the people then and now are taken into consideration, than those which are passed at the present day. The history of the past goes to prove that the welfare of a country depended more on the wisdom of the rulers than on the nature of the laws—that it was the men and not the measures which made or marred a country s welfare, if a good king happened to be on the throne the laws were wisely administered, but if he was selfish and disposed to do evil, the laws, if ever so wise, were ignored. This, to a great extent, may be seen at the present time in the administration of the laws by Judges and Magistrates, and, oven in their narrow limits, a good deal of good or evil results from their actions. Therefore we are not at all inclined to agree with those who prefer measures to men, for in this young country it has been found that presumably wise legislation has been most foolishly administered. Such, : for instance, as the carrying out of the public works policy, which was wisely conceived but most unwisely carried out. It is for this reason that we should be sorry if anything should occur which would necessitate a new Ministry being formed, even supposing they were pledged to carry out the same policy, for be it remembered that it is difficult indeed to carry out a self-reliant policy, as it requires men of special firmness to do so successfully. From absolutely attributing to the present Government all the evils of administration and legislation, which their lively imaginations could call into existence, the Opposition have come down to what they call criticism with a little praise thrown in, and we have no doubt before the time of the elections comes round they will be found to give a general approval of the pohey, while strongly objecting to the personnel of the Ministry. Herein lies the danger of the cry for “ Measures not Men ” being successfully raised in many instances to substitute a genuine supporter of the Government by one who pretenls to appreciate their policy while objecting to them personally. But we hope it will be remembered that the Ballance Ministry have done more real good for the colony during the two years they have been in office than was done by all previous Ministries put together, and it has possibly been more the men than the measures which has brought about this great result, apd caused the whole of the sister colonies and the Mother country to take an example from New Zealand as a guide for their own advancement Such a high compliment has never been paid before, and may not be paid again if the electors are not careful to retain the men as well as the measures, for the latter without the former might prove ruinous to the best interests of the colony.