The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2980, 13 January 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1881.

For the first time in its existence the Waipawa Mail, iv Wednesday's issue, has ventured upon an expression of political opinion in reference to the Hawke's Bay representatives in the General Assembly. Our up-country contemporary believes that, while uniformly returning three members pledged to support a particular party, the district has failed to secure the consideration which usually falls to the lot of faithful constituencies. " The district," says the Mail, " has come to be considered by outsiders as bound hand and foot to a certain party of politicians, and the influence of its members, as independent exponents of opinion, ia consequently very much at a discount." In expressing itself in this style, it is more than probable that our contemporary will be regarded as a very independent exponent of its own opiuion, but it is scarcely likely that its views will find much encouragement from the people amongst which that journal circulates.

The result of tbe last general election | showed clearly enough (he estimation in which Mr Orrnond was—and we believe still is—held io the district he has so ably represented for such a lengthened period. But setting that on one side, the Mail is singularly wide of the mark in its supposition that our members possess no influence in the House owing to their fealty to party. A glance at the records of the proceedings of the House of Representatives so short a time back as last session will show the kind of influence Mr Ormond exerts over the administration of colonial affai.-s ; and the ready attention that is paid to his every request in regard to local matters proves that he is by no means held at a discount by the Government. If it has escaped the memory of our contemporary, it has certainly not been forgotten by the public at large, that it was Mr Orrnond's speech in the debate on tbe Financial Statement that forced the Ministry to enter upon a policy of economy, to reduce the army of civil servants, and to save in departmental expenditure an amount that otherwise would have been added to the taxation of the country. In the estimates as brought down the Government merely proposed the introduction of " poor and paltry economies." Mr Ormond, though a staunch Ministerialist, was the first who had the boldness in the House to condemn half and half measures in the face of a financial crisis. He demanded on behalf of tbe coiony that a direct saving should be effected of at least a quarter of a million of. money. And that, saving has been effected. It is a fact that, on the conclusion of his speech, Miuisfers sent for Mr Ormond and almost piteously pleaded inability to alter the estimates without attacking the Civil Service. " Then," said Mr Ormond, " attack tbe Civil Service." "Do it yourself," was the reply. "It is not mv business," Mr Ormond answered. "We shall be turned out if we do as you want," said Ministers. "Then be turned out," replied Mr Ormond, " You have your duty to perform to the country, and you must do it." And that duty has been performed in spite of that hydra-headed monster, the Civil Service, the winnings of mendicants who look for pecuniary reward for political support, and the ravings of disappointed billet hunters.