The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. MR SUTTON, M.H.R.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1624, 4 March 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1884. MR SUTTON, M.H.R.

A few days ago Mr Sutton, M.H.R. for Hawke's Bay, addressed his constituents at. Hastings. Mr Sutton, though not a brilliant light of our colonial Legislature, is a respectable member thereof, and possesses, perhaps, j more than; an average amount of common sense, and colonial experienco, Ho pointed out with an honesty that did him credit that our new and popular triennial parliamentary system breaks down in practice, and that good government under it could not be obtained. He prophecied that early in the coming session the Ministry will be defeated, and seek a dissolution. There is some reason to believe that Major Atkinson finding that he can no longer carry on the* government of the country with any degree of comfort, will seek an,adverse vote, and take.his chance with !ii fresh pack of cards and a new deal. Mr Sutton in tjie course of his speech' indicated wjtli some shrewdness;; that:;the -reformwhich .Ministers are now preparing, to give the country, in the shape of .the Civil Service, will not bring thorn popular support. What the people appreciate is some tangible anl immediate benefit, such as a reduction of railway freights, or a remission of taxation. We were pleased to learn that Mr Sutton holds that the time has arrived when our railways should be taken out of the: political ! ;arona and managed as a. commercial speculation. Ho holds that there is no hope of : taxation in the colony being reduced, but it appears to us that if our railways wero managed as a commercial speculation a reduction,of ; taxation might be a possibility. In some ,of : the minor questions upon which : the Hember for Hawke's BayJDistrict, in the course of 'his address, he expressed very strong!

opinions. He attributed, for example, an increase of lunacy in theHawke's Bay Province to the vile and adulterated spirits which are, in many instances, imported into the colony, and he appeared to be In possession of a considerable amount of evidence in support of his argument, We have adulteration Acts enough in the colony to check such malpractices, but like the Gaming and Lotteries Act, they don't appear to be workable. Mr Sutton explained to his constituents that in the session of 1882 he gftYo his vote to the Government on condition that the local government Bilis were passed, He complained of the manner in which the Government had evaded their obligations, under one of them, the Native Eating Act, and ridiculed

the way in which they went right about-face wheu he and others remonstrated with them for their breach of faith, He said that he should have thought a good deal of this Government if they had justified the action they took instead of withdrawing from it when they found the feeling of the country was against them. Mr Sutton wound up an able speech by declaring that he would not support the Ministry in the coming session, and .that he

looked forward to the next general election returning men to the House who would be fit to lead it. The defection of a country member-like Mr Sutton from the ministerial party is a serious loss, because it indicates a feeling of dissatisfaction which prevails in many of the country districts of the colony. Wo believo that many Ministerial supporters sympathise with the views expressed by Mr Sutton, but m e too scrupulous to desert the party with which they have been working with that readiness and facility which distinguishes the member for Hawke's Bay. Still, when the next election conies round, we hope to see Mr Sutton again returned to Parliament. He is a little too fond of changing sides in tho House, but he is not one of thoso political adventurers who will sell his constituency for personal profit, and we hope to see him returned again to Parliament. when the next election comes round.