THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1895.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2763, 15 January 1895, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1895.

THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA. The Premier’s speech at Hokitika, which we published in our last issue, must have been a source of great disappointment to his opponents. From some words he dropped in the North Island they came to the conclusion that the Government were preparing for a big loan, but the Premier has now informed them that nothing of the kind has ever been contemplated, and that the intention is to go on in the same modest way that has characterised the whole career of the Liberal Administration. Another Opposition prophecy has been proved false, for instead of the fireworks which it was said the Government coute.niplated, Mr Seddon submitted a very modest programme for next session. Revision of the Customs duties, the Licensing Bill, and Local Government is indeed a very mild programme for a Government which is represented as being composed of firebrands who care for nothing about the country so long as they can secu'O their seats. Tor our owu P art > wo a great deal omitteu from this programme that requires attention, !" lt doubtless those will receive due considera L .'° U ‘ o,^ h °: these is the Legislative Council. requires reforming on the lines "laid down by the Premier himself; that is, so that a certain number of the members shall retire every year. If Mr Seddon could only carry this reform ho would have done a great and lasting work. The council would theu be what no second chamber in the world is—perfect. It does not appear to us that it was expected of Mr Seddon to refer to the question as to whom Mr Ballance wished to lead, but the matter was made a great deal of during last session, and no doubt the Premier wished to explain the whole thing to his constituents. His explanation bears the stamp of truth on it. Mr Seddon says that it was at the suggestion of Sir Robert Stout that he spoke to Mr Ballance, that there and then Mr Ballance expressed the wish that he (Mr Seddon) should lead the party, that Drs Mirbach and O’Carroll were present and had written to him confirming this statement.

Now who could doubt this ? Mr Seddon was then acting Premier, and there was nothing more natural than that Mr Ballance should express a wish that he should continue to lead. At the Cabinet meeting held immediately after Mr Ballance’s death, Mr Seddon’s colleagues agreed that he should lead until Parliament met, and when that event took place he was selected by the whole of the Liberal party with one exception as their leader. A general election was held shortly afterwards, under the leadership of Mr Seddon, and the party was returned by a majority that astonished everybody. No leader ever inspired such confidence as Mr Seddon, and his claim to the Premiership is indisputable. Sir R. Stout held office for three years and wont to the country with the result that he himself was defeated by a mere boy, and only a mere remnant of his followers were returned. The contrast is most telling, but we trust we have heard the last of the whole thing. There was nothing in it from beginning to end. Mr Ballance had no power to bequeath the position, and consequently his wishes on the subject were of no consequence. We have to congratulate the Premier on his Hokitika speech, it wis one of the ablest he has dedeli ved, and was a “crusher” to his opponents.