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MINISTERS WITH CONVICTIONS.

(LYTTELTOff Times.) We do not ..say that^ .Ministers have no convictions. All that' we say is that these convictions are of feather-weight in the balance when the seals of office are in the other scale. ' The convictions themselves are not changed j they are only postponed to a more convenient season*.. We believe that the Colonial Treasurer has an earnest conviction that Taranaki contains a peculiar people, and that the Promised Land between Stony river and Waingongoro' must 'be conquered at the cost of the colony for their perpetual possession.. Another article, of his faith is that, inasmuch as this* chosen body is, in the meantime, in need of cash, the further duty of the Colony is to provide fully for that need by means of public expenditure. Moreover, as Nature forgot to furnish the district with an harbour, an exceptional contribution of twenty per cent from land revenue must be made by the Colony towards making good that deficiency. The creed is simple and practical. Taranaki wants money, land, roads, and , harbours ; therefore the whole Colony is bound to provide accordingly. Paris at one time was France; New Plymouth at present is New Zealand. The Attorney-General also has his own convictions. He believes inland rings and in big land jobs. He looks upon the Natives and their lands in the North Island as means admirably adapted, under a wise dispensation of Providence, and under skilful European manipulation, to the achievement of those objects. Like his colleagues, his formula is plain and to the point. Native land is food for capital. Confiscation and direct purchase are the appointed means for giving effect to this great natural law. The heroic work of colonisation is best seen at Piako, at Patatere, and at Murimotu. A model State consists in a few capitalists with enormous freeholds, and in many labourers without any land of their own at all. Thus it will be seen that two Ministers at least have strong<convictions, and that the colony is getting the full benefit of 'those convictions. Between the Colonial Treasurer and the Attorney-General, we are governed in the interest of a Taranaki clique and an Auckland land ring. The greatest good of the fewest number is themotto of "two leading minds in the Hall Cabinet. The other Ministers are willing, for the sake of place, to sacrifice their better judgment. And the colony, although the net is spread in its sight, hastens to the'snare. - We are squandering money to please constituents of Major Atkinson, and we arestopping.settlement.to please clients 'of Mr Whitaker. -' - l

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WH18801229.2.14

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4034, 29 December 1880, Page 2

Word Count
429

MINISTERS WITH CONVICTIONS. Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4034, 29 December 1880, Page 2

MINISTERS WITH CONVICTIONS. Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4034, 29 December 1880, Page 2