The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1896. THE MEMBER' FOR PAREORA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCV, Issue 10931, 14 April 1896, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1896. THE MEMBER' FOR PAREORA.

When the electors of Pareora chose Mr P. E. Platman to represent them in the Legislature of the colony, they knew that they had secured a member whose virtues were not of the ornamental type, hut “a plain, blunt man,” possessed of strong convictions, straightforward manners and simple directness of speech. While preferring him for the possession of these qualities, it is probable that very few of his constituents expected him to acquire the grasp and mastery of political questions which he has done during the two sessions he hag sat in Parliament. Chosen originally for his Liberal opinions, sturdy common sense and upright character, the member for Pareora has more than justified the anticipations of his friends, and bids fair to retain the confidence of the electorate by sheer force of political honesty, consistency and general usefulness. Mr Platman’s address to the electors of Temuka a few evenings back was a complete reflex of the man. There was no attempt at ornate or impassioned oratory, no appeal to the sympathies or prejudices of his hearers. He had an unvarnished tale to deliver, and he showed no desire to wander into theoretical disquisitions or, partisan fulminations by way of diverting attention from his own convictions and acts. Mr Platman proved by his account of tbe late parliamentary session that he had closely adhered to the lines of independent and moderate Liberalism wbicb be had laid down for himself. On the question of banking legislation, for instance, he said he had concluded that it was best to keep the Bank of New Zealand afloat, “ not so much in the interest of the bank as in the interest of the colony”; but he voted against the purchase of the Colonial Bank, as he could not see that any “goodwill” pertained to that institution. Coming from a country representative the opinion of the member for Pareora on the working of the Advances to Settlers Act is worth quoting. He declared that “ the amounts offered to applicants were not at .all in. proportion to the securities proposed to be given ”; he said the settlers were treated “ roughly,” and that he knew of oases in which applicants “ had been kept waiting for weeks and weeks, and were then told the advance could not be made.” His opinion that tbe system of Government advances “ must be a vast benefit to the colony, if properly administered,” is shared by everyone whose political vision is not obscured by self-interest or party feeling. Mr Platman. expressed warm approval of the Land for Settlements Act, but thought it might “ be necessary to make it more Liberal ” in the matter of compulsory acquisition. He compressed a whole volume of history and comment into one sentence when he added■ “ The Opposition have done their level best to upset this Act.” On the questions of co-operative public works, tariff, reciprocal treaties, public debt and other topics, Mr Platman spoke with equal directness and force. He gave a graphic account of the course of licensing legislation last session—the return of the Bill “ hacked and slashed ” and “ scarcely recognisable ” after its treatment in the Council, and finally the compromise arrived at, under which the method of taking tbe poll was much improved. Although he admits, with sorrow, that tbe licensing law as it stands is not respected, Mr Platman believes in further progressive! legislation, and declares it to be bis intention to “ go for national option, control of clubs and still stick to tbe bare majority.” On one question the member for Pareora admitted that bis opinions bad undergone a change. He had opposed the Beferendum Bill last session, chiefly on the score of expense, but he now recognises that some such measure is necessary to overcome the block of progress caused by the repeated rejection of Bills by the Council. 'Altogether Mr Platman showed by his frank exposition of Liberal principles that he was thoroughly entitled to the expression of confidence he received from his constituents.