THE LATE SIR H. PARKES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 13, 11 May 1896, Page 2

THE LATE SIR H. PARKES.

[To the Editor.] Sir,—l must compliment you upon the impartiality with which you have treated the various subjects touched upon since your opening issue, but must certainly agree to differ to a certain extent with your remarks 011 impecunious politicians. Having watched the career of Sir Henry Pavkes for a number of years, I must say that I was an admirer of the deceased statesman, and belie re that the Mother Colony can well afford to provide for remnants of the family that he has left behind. He certainly stands out very prominently among the politicians of his time as one who did not use his high position in the interest of syndi-cate-mongers or for the purpose of "feathering his own nest." He was a born statesman, and although he was 011 more than one occasion unable to meet his liabilities, the people of New South Wales came to his assistance, recognising the loss the country would sustain in allowing such a man to retire into oblivion. The career of the deceased points clearly to the fact that the man who would serve his country faithfully must be a patriot, for he not only receives the heaped-up abuse of a section of the Press, but cannot hope to make a living at the game. However much we may feel disappointed with Sir Henry's action during the last two or three years, his previous services to the country are of such a nature that New South "Wales would be only doing a befitting act in providing for those he has left behind. I cannot agree with you when you say that " those who labour in the field of polities are invariably well paid for their services," for my observations lead me entirely in an opposite direction. Besides, this does not fit in with your contention of a few evening's ago when you declared that Ministers were insufficiently paid. Until we have Stale Insurance or pensions to the aged it is the duty of the country to provide for the families of those who have rendered signal service to it. Yours, &c., ÜBI.