MR W. W. COLLINS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9005, 18 January 1895, Page 3

MR W. W. COLLINS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THB'PEESS. Sib,; I—We1 —We are all ab liberty to criticise a man's utterances, yet I rather hesitate jbo criticise the address lately delivered by Mr W. Vv. Collins. A few inaccuracies, mode* rate exaggeration and a little misrepreaentation pue can put up with ; bat really, t»f ter Tuesday night's . speech, one, cannot help wondering what possessed the electors in choosing their juuior member. To begin with toe affair of the Sergeant-at-Arma— "a paltry business," according to Mr Collins. It seems incredible, bub , woald you believe 'it, Mr Collins was actually quite indignant, at Sir R. Stout making- any reference to the "paltry business," and „ said the time of the country wai being wasted over a trivial matter of k< leping pure the Administration of the coon try. Just fancy a man 'who thinks he's i i his right senses thinking it a " trivial matter " to see there is no corrupt Administration ! As Mc Collins would" like to be in a Parliament where illegal appointmeuts go unchallenged he had better emigrate, for. among our representatives there will always be found some who will expose a shady transaction. And thin we come to bis sublime utterances upon the Licensing Bill, Having relieved himself of a little of hie spleen by calling temperance reformers faddists and fanatics, he auhoanccd " we want education not prohibition." Now, it* all very well to talk about "education," " looking after people in their homes," &c. If this is the cure of drunkenness why does not Mr Collins' do a little teaching and visiting himself, instead of leaving the work to others end then jeering at their noble and nnaelfish efforts? Why does he nob say straight out, "I am a publican's man, and have always worked in the publicans' interests," as we all know he has done. Could he manage it, it would become him better than bragging about beine a total abstainer —it will be better for - New Zealand when he is a total abstainer from her politics. While on this' question I should like him to explain, in the face of bis statement that Bellamy's did not need closing as the members are so sober, what caused an .M.H.R. to walk over a Welling' ton wharf? Next comes a wild etatemeub

—" The policy Bills of the Government invariably got through without a division." If Mr G. will tarn op p. 153, voL 28, Hansard, he wil find that there was a division oil the New Zealand Console; Bill, and that twenty-three members were "game enough to have.their names put down as voting against the policy Bills." Other instances abound. There are a few other matters I should like to note had I space, each as the exquisite jeelf-satiefaction thai induced Mr C t» say,; "I have carried oat a very seat little programme."—lam, &c, ' . . ' : '■■- . Pukb, *