THE RESIGNATION OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 191, 21 June 1879, Page 2

THE RESIGNATION OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

(PER I'IiKSS AGENCY.) Dujjedin, Thursday, . By appointment a deputation of citizens waited on the Attorney-General, at the Ministerial Offices, this afternoon, to urge on the desirability of reconsidering his determination to resign his seat in the Assembly. The Hon, Mr Stout said in replyl can assure you that I. feel very much that a deputation should wait oniric on'this subject.- The position was this: When I first went into politics, in 1875,1 did so in breach of niy articles., \yitlf my partner, but with his consent.'' fu 1877' I 'had actually written-out my resignation, and intonded to retire; but at the urgent solicitation of friends, to whom I spoke oil the subject, and at the suggestion of my colleaguesfor the city—Messrs Macandrew and Larnach—l withdrew it for a time. But otcourse my business is increasing so much that my partner is unable to ..overtake the duties. I feel that it is casting' too much burthen on him, and that it is contrary to the spirit of the arrangement which I entered into with him. That is the' sole reason of my resignation. If Ido resign I may say that I do so with reluct-, ance, and after a good deal of thought, on various grounds, The first is that it is known through the Press that the Ministry are likely to be attacked, and one does not like to leave' friends when he knows that they are threatened by attack, At the samo tirao I feol this: That if the new Electoral Bill is passed there ought to be a dissolution after the next session of the Assembly, and if I went up for this session I would be bound in honor to go to the country at the close of the session, and bound in honor, to contest the election; and so, to enter into the very thick of the fight thus, it seems to me I should be prevented from going out of politics for some time to come. I may say also that my remaining here during the last two years was a breach of promise to my friends at Home to visit them, which broach has annoyed me very much, I may say that I have now ready—in fact, that they are in print—many of the Bills which will be brought forward by the Government this session. Were it only pecuniary matters that were concerned, I would not grudge tJ make considerable sacrifices in that respect; but there are my duties to my partner, and other engagements not of a pecuniary character. I believe I shall be able to give you a definite reply on Monday. I have been in communication with my colleagues on the subject, and am awaiting some communication from them. Of courso I feel the deputation very much because I see here some gentlemen whom I know to have differed with me in public opinion, and I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to them for calling on me to-day. I will reconsider' the matter, and oil Monday I will [be able to give you a' definite reply. The deputation then withdrew,