The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890. SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2139, 18 December 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1890. SIR HARRY ATKINSON.

Sie Ha.ee y Atkinson is going Home to be Agent-General. So current reports says at least, and we certainly feel glad of it. He was the backbone of his party, and yet he had not one sentiment in common with it. Sir Harry is as liberal and as progressive as Sir Robert Stout, but notwithstanding this he has all his lifetime played the part of a Tory hack. He has been the pliable tool of his followers. The majority of them cordially hate him because they know his disposition. Ask any Tory of any •

political standing, and he will say that Sir Harry Atkinson is the most , thorough-going Socialist in New Zealand. For this reason the Tories have been for a long time trying to shelve him. In the years between 1882 and 1884, Sir Harry, in conjunction with Mr Rolleston, took very progressive steps, especially as regards perpetual leasing and village settlement. The result was that large numbers of the moneyed men turned against him, and jumped to the standard of Sir Julius Vogel, but horror of horrors, who did Sir Julius call in to assist him but Sir Robert Stout. 'J his was going from the frying pan into the fire. Sir Harry Atkinson could be bent and made a tool of, but Sir Robert Stout was not made of such pliable stuff. No Tory influence could bend him. The Tories then saw their mistake, and they set about rectifying it. They raised the scream of extravagence against the Stout-Vogel Ministry, and it did good service. It frightened the country, and the Stout-Vogel party were hurled from power. It is all over now, it is a matter of history, but honestly and truly it is our firm conviction, that a more careful government never administered the affairs of New Zealand, 'i he secret behind the whole scream was that instead of turning out a Conservative Sir Julius Vogel developed into a Liberal. But the Tones had not the slightest intention of falling back on Sir Harry Atkinson. All their hopes were centered on Mr Bryce. Had he been elected Sir Harry Atkinson would have been shelved, and Mr Bryce would have been Premier. The defeat of Mr Bryce, however, threw them out of their reckoning, and in spite of themselves they had to fall back on Sir Harry. They have now Mr Bryce in Parliament, and without doubt he will be the next leader, while Sir Harry will be sent Home as AgentGeneral, This arrangement will suit very well. Sir Harry has supplied all the brain of the party for years, and when he goes the prestige which continuous power has given the party will go with him. This is borne out by what happened last session. He was behind the scenes pulling the strings and prompting his puppet ministers, yet they made themselves ridiculous and displayed the grossest incompetency. If, therefore, they could not get on when they had the benefit of his advice, what will they do when he is ir London. They will fare very badly. The honest truth is, there is no ability amongst them. Let us take the acting Premier. He was ridiculed when he took office, and he certainly has shown unfitness for it ever since. Then again was not Mr Bryce regarded as a very feeble man when he was taken into the Ministry, and how did he rise to fame ? A very simple affair got his name up. The natives were somewhat turbulent at the time, and Mr Bryce, who was Native Minister, wanted to take strong measures to put them down. The other Ministers disagreed with him and Mr Bryce resigned. A few months later the Te Whiti troubles broke out more violently still, and Mr Bryce was sent for again and reinstated in office. Now in all Mr Bryces career there is nothing greater than that, and really this is not enough to entitle him to rank with either Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir RobertjStout, or Mr Ballance. Mr Bryce is not a man of education or ability, he is stern, unlenting, and unsympathetic, and has none of the qualities which would attach men to him. We have not the slightest hesitation in predicting that if he ever gets the reins he will drive into the ditch, because he lacks the most essentuals qualities of a leader of men. DISSOLUTION. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson, the Hon. Mr Richardson, and others, have prophesied that there will be a. dissolution of Parliament before long. The parties are so evenly divided they say that it will be impossible to carry on the government of the country. This is bosh. Mr Ballance has a working majority, and will be able to carry on the government without the slightest difficulty if the members adhere to their election pledges. It is not an easy matter to dissolve parliament under the triennial system. Few members who go through the ordeal of a general election are in any great harry to go through another, and they know full well that a dissolution means worry, anxiety, trouble, and expense. They will, therefore, do their best to avoid all that unless we make a great mistake, the majority of members will prefer following Mr Ballance for the next three years to going to the country and running the risk of defeat. We do not anticipate that there is the slightest danger of a dissolution for the next three years, but if it were to come on at all it would not be sooner than 1892. Mr Ballance in all probability will not try to make any drastic changes during the next session, but will carry on quietly until the following year. He may then come down with a pronounced programme, and if this were not acceptable to the majority of members it would be quite legitimate for him to appeal to the country on it. Such a contingency is possible, but the idea of an immediate dissolution is absurd, and only the empty combings of ministerial brains. Ministers do not want to give up office, and they are looking about for some reed to which to cling. It is very hard on them, certainly ; they ought to be permanently appointed, so that they should enjoy perpetually the sweets of office,