The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1890.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5964, 17 October 1890, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1890.

Mn Rkadkb Wood has been credited with having said that to attend a session of Parliament was simply to undergo threo months' imprisonment with haid labor. When Mr Reader Wood was in Parliament our General Assembly was not composed as it has been of late. Manhood suffrage had not worked its full measure of mischief at that time. Tho Seddons aud Fishes and Taylors and Vorralls had not then loomed upon the political horizon. Political rowdies wore not prominently in evidence, and a seat in Parliament was not without honor, nor wholly devoid of pleasure. Since then there havo been vory great changes. In going down to the House after a general election a member runs much about the samo risk with regard to his company as an applicant for admission to the casual ward of a workhouse. Ho

has got to hob-nob with all sorts and con-

ditions, and though this may havo its attractions to some minds, we cannot withhold sympathy from those who take no pleasure in it. The New Zealand Herald remarks that there is uothiLg very attractive about tho position of a member of tho House of Representatives. The honorarium is small, so that no ono will go to Parliament for that. This is something to bo thankful for, for of all the misfortunes that could happen to a country tho severest is that it should be governed by a set of men who aro professional politicians, and who have no interest in the country except tho money they draw from its treasury. This paltry consideration becomes tho fir„t

in their view, and they sell themsolves, and plot and scheme, and sacrifice the publio

interest, to what they think will promote their election. Then tho position of a member makes it necessary that a man shall spend three months at least of every year iv Wellington. In other lands the chosen of tho people go from tho provinces to tho capital, whero they have around them tho amenities of a large city. But in Now Zealand we shut them up for the session in the most disagreeable placo of rosi-

deuce iv tho colony, and subject them to tho disgusting weariness of listening for threo mouths together to tho everlasting loquacity of some of the foremost Opposition orators. Wo have, however, to send re-

preventatives to Parliament, and wo hope to send tho best men wo can get." Our Auckland contemporary says that "in England the bringing out of suitable candidates is an important function of tho party leaders, aud the greatest care is takon to solect goad men. Here everything is haphazard. Tho electors probably have to make their choice between two men who press themselves upon them. In tho circumstauces, considering that wo are sending those men to discluirgo an arduous and disagreeable duty, wo ought to look about for gentlemen in whom wu have full confidence, and nak them to come forward. We ought also to make the election au easy matter for them, and if necessary subscribe tho oxpenses. We must do this, or something liko it, if the country is not to bo ruined by being put in charge of those who havo no interest in it. Wo must do this, or something liko it, if the next Parliament is to be better than the last. It could scarcely bo worse." Our readers will fully endorse tho following remarks :—"Now is the timo to make a beginning on a now line. Thore are not a few men in the community

perfectly fit for the office in every respect. But such men will not push thomselves forward under the present conditions. Th 9 man chosen should be of proved capacity amongst his f ello ws. He must have nothing to gain by political intrigue. He must have a good record as being strictly honorable and moral. New Zealand must be his country to such an extent that he will suffer by its depression, and will advance with its prosperity. His interests must be absolutely identical with the best interests of the community."