THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Nelson, Saturday, January 3, 1891, THE NEW HOUSE.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6000, 3 January 1891, Page 3

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Nelson, Saturday, January 3, 1891, THE NEW HOUSE.

It the lamentation over tbe alleged decline in general ability and fitness for their duties of tbe members ot tbe new Hoosa was well-founded., something woald be said about it by the Opposition, as well as tbe Ministerialists, iroin whom alone aoytLing of the kind is heard. Whi.'e Sir Harry Atkinson's estimate is moat melancholy, Mr Ballance deolares, that on the average the qualifications of those jaat elected are superior to what he found in 1875, when he firat sat, No donbt many prominent men are absent, bat if the list is oarefallv analysed, it will be found t^at the majority of them either did not oome forward, or were rejected for reasons quite easy to understand. For the moßt of those defeated it cannot be denied that no general regret has been expressed. The one conspicuous instance to the contrary is Sir Maurice O'Eorke. Even in his case it was I obvious three years since that his hold on his conatituects was of tbe frailest. He had difficulty in winning then, though opposed, by a comparative stranger to tbe district, so that when attacked by Mr Buckland, who, if as coarse as he is described, has plenty of energy and brains, hia failure netd surprise no one. Sir George Grey reared on the urgent representations of his medical advisers. Mr Edward EicharJsou le t hi jsc-lf no longer able to tear the faigue of a coatest. As for Mr Hislop, no fair-minded critic on e.ther tide can say with truth, that hia fate was dog ricbly deserved ; while Mr Lara toh conid net possibly think iiis fjruaer Liberal BUfpor>r3 wuuld trouble thetnstlves abouc him, waea he threw over bis old friends and asaumt-d the oharacfcßr — ill-be-coming Urn — of an Independent. Mr Walker id a great iosa to the Liberals. while Mr Lance, who bi heito worked with them, provoked hh fate by denouncing the leader to whose elusion he was a party. £mong tbe chief Ministerial is s whu kep-> out of the fray are Mr Ormood aLd Mr Djwnij S ewart, both formerly strongly sgaiust those now cliogiog to office in desperation. Theße two, and a yet imaßcerD&ined n^arnbar more, oleared tbe way for others on tbe same nde fur tbe well-QDderstood consideration of a cail to the Legislative Council, whioh has not yet been made. The bulk of the changes ure of course owing to the reduction in the number of European members from 91 to 70, and it is satisfactory that a majority of those cow out ia tbe cold backed the Government in this pretence of economy, really & scheme to strengthen the hold of the wealthy olassee. And what can be truly said against the present House by the superseded Premier ? It is that he does not know how to cajole or bector sufficient of its mombers to keep him in office in defiance of the verdict of the people. Glance down tho roll, and it cannot ba questioned that the Opposition alone can furnish more than two full Miuieteries, each superior en the average to that now left for execution. Tnis too witbout taking into acccnat any of those now entering the House for the first time. As to them, veteran politicians diecover in their speeches much to justify the expeotation that several will soon come to the front, and while adorning the House with their unqaeetiogable eloquenoe, will acqaire public confidence by their prudence and moderation. Mistakes, many an 3 great, have been made in this election, vet none euch as to make despondency warrantable. The real dread of Mi-listers is on behalf of themselves. They know right well the fiat has gone forth for their downfall. All their arts, all the inflaenoe of their patrons — they have little or vone — will not stay tbe besom of destruction.