The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1883.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2813, 28 September 1883, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1883.

The Government have apparently found out already that m losing Mr Whitaker they are likely to lose the support of the Northern Members ; for it is reported from a Ministerial source that they intend to make a concession to public feeling m Auckland as soon as possible. How they are going to manage it, however, is not very plain. It is given out that they will either appoint an Auckland man to be a member of the Executive without portfolio, with a seat iv the Legislative Council, or else that, on Mr Johnston's retirement, which is 'expected to take place m March or April, they will give his seat m the Cabinet to the representative of an Auckland constituency. This is all very well, but it is not to be believed that the Government will be able to secure tho support of the Northern section of the House, or to gain the confidence of the Auckland people, by either of those plans. It is not merely a nominal representation m the Cabinet that the North cares about ; but the substantial advantages which Mr Whitaker's commanding influence assured to them. So long aa he was at the head of the Government, the views of tho North were bound to be respected m the disposal of all public questions m which they were concerned ; and even when his actual influence was not very perceptible, the fact of his being where he was, constituted a source of pride and satisfaction to those who look on him as the embodiment of Northern interests. Now, it is absurd to suppose tbat this feeling is to be transferred at a moment's notice to anybody living m Auckland, or representing an Auckland constituency, whom the Government may choose to make a Minister. The virtue lies not m the position, but m the man. The North will never be contented with a mere dummy, or with anyone one who, while representing Northern interests, will not at the same time be a living power m colonial politics. "Where are the Government going to get such, a man ? The only one that we know of who possesses any of the requisite qualifications is Mr Swanson ; and there is very little likelihood of his taking office under any circumstances. Mr McCosh Clark has come to the front very much of late years m Auckland ; and will probably be a leading public man there before long. He very nearly beat Sir George Grey for Auckland East at the last General Election, and if he had done so, he would undoubtedly have taken a prominent position m the House. He is a man of large property and of large ideas, liberal and enterprising and popular ; and he has displayed m local affairs a very considerable aptitude for public business. He is, m short, a thoroughly worthy representative of the commercial interests of Auckland. The Government might, therefore, 6ummon Mr Clark to the Legislative

C'umr.il, and make him a Mi 1 tuber of E the Executive Council without port- s l folio for the present, with the reversion 8 ' of a Cabinet Office on Mr Johuston'u a retirement. But twenty men like Air ' , Clark would not fill tho place vacated ft by Mr WhiUW. Mr Clark ia not a t i politician at all, and he has absolutely no experience of colonial affairs or colonial '1 public men. His intliu'iicc is strictly fl local, and even m the North he has no " hold on the people outside of Auckland. Mr Whi taker, ou the other hand, ; is tlie most experienced politician m j New Zealand, and his influence, when c he was m the Ministry extended to all 1 sections and all parties. Ho also was ;| as much thought of m tin; country ' districts m tho North as m Auckland " itsetf; iintl his word had weight among '^ thousands who know nothing and care ] nothing about Mr Clark. As for the F present representatives of Northern r constituencies, there is not one, except \ Mr Swanson, whose accession to ' office would not weaken the Minis- ' try instead of strengthening them. ( It may be said, perhaps, that the T representation of localities m the , Cabinet, the " provincial equilibrium " i as it m culled, is a rotten system, and i that, it has already proved such a failure i that the people iv Aucklaud are not likely to trouble themselves about it. ' But \i must be borne m mind that ' the Cabinet is actually constructed on that rotten system. Mr Dick and Mr Oliver are there distinctly as the); representatives of Otago. Mr Johnston is there as the representative of ' Wellington. Mr Rolleslon is supposed to represent Canterbury ; and so on. The whole thing is iv gross absurdity, we freely admit ; and diametrically opposed to the principles of parliamentary government. But, still there it is. The Auckland people may fairly say to Major Atkinson, " If your Cabinet wore constituted on a proper basis, if it consisted of the best men m the Legislature regardless of the places they happen to represent, then we should not ask to have an Auckland Minister. But it is not so constituted. It consists for tho most part of local delegates pure and simple ; and that being so, we must insist on Auckland being fully represented there. We have hitherto been satisfied with one Minister; because that one was a Wliitaker ; but henceforward we shall claim two seats m the Cabinet, and they must be filled, moreover, not by tools of yours, but by tools of ours." This is just where the disadvantage of the system of " provincial equilibrium " lies. When any Minister of colonial reputation retires, it is next to impossible to fill his place, without disturbing the precious •' equilibrium." There is no provincial equilibrium whatever m the Cabinet at the present moment ; and we fail to see how Major Atkinson is going to create it. Yet he cannot afford to leave things n3 they are; for if he does, he will iind his division lists going all crooked next session. No one relishes the sweets of oth'ee more than he does; but we venture to say he is not altogether at his ease just now.