The Hislop Incident.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6648, 12 September 1889, Page 2

The Hislop Incident.

A MiNisTKEiAii resignation following an adverse report, and followed itself by a motion of cenaure, which the Government rather cleverly outflanked —that iB the aeries of events which conclude tile Hislop incident. Condemned by the Committee of the Legislative Council, which everyone feels to have been a singularly impartial tribunal, Mr Hislop resigned, doing the best thing possible under tho circumstances. A3 his colleagues were subject to the Bame cenaure, the Ministry was in a difficulty, and being consequently in doubt, hesitated. Mr Hialop relieved them by resigning his seat in Parliament. He is to seek reelection at Oamaru, in order to come back whitewashed. But hiß offence cannot be got rid of in that way ; for nothing can enable him to repeat the absolutely unjustifiable course of intervening ministerially in a matter concerning his client, which is the purport of the conviction recorded against him. Aa tho Opposition, could not let the matter rest, a vote of censure waß abled againafc Mr Fergus, the Minister for Justice, who had allowed Mr Hislop to intervene. This included the Government who had made common cause with both their colleagues. They hesitated, called their party together, found them staunch, and proceeded to challenge the Opposition to an immediate isßue, which the Opposition, being in the minority, avoided. A smart passage of arms between the two chiefs, and a few cutting speeches from the Opposition Bide of the House, closed the whole matter. But the unpleasant flavour clings to the Government, and will do eo till the end of their career with, dogging and hnmpering effect. One Committee reported that the Christie case was rightly adjudicated by Judge Ward; anothor that Mr Hislop had behaved badly. The Government appeals from the House to a constituency. A worse wriggle out of a worse mess could not be invented by the most hopeless artist in scrapes.