POLITICAL PORTRAITS.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 106, 8 January 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL PORTRAITS.

THE HON WILLIAM ROLLESTON,

Froudes Essay on " The Umi of a Landed Gentry "is familiar doubtless to many of our readers. It is an elaborate article, - written m apqlegetio strain — as though justification were necessary for the existence of a class. The teaching of Christianity however destroys all olass distinctions; and though the equality of their rights. Thus the brilliant essayist tells his readers that '• -.-the aristocracy are learning on their side that if they are to keep their hold m this country they must deserve to * keep it " — meaning thereby, that no aristooraoy, but that of worth can survive'the seething scrutiny of medern timed. In considering Mr. Bolleston m a polifcican one has to remember that he is a scion of a family of whom Mr Froude says " traoe them back to the founders.; you will generally find some one whese memory ought not to be allowed to die." Thus more is expected of him than of his colleagues. He stands m a different category to the others. He who is bound by the traditions of an order, must depend on their "deserving to keep it." Other men may afford to do wrong, but Mr Kolleston hardly can. Thus through the whole of Mr Solleston's official career, his private life has remained, unstained by the roioe of calumny : and though he has had a long connection with New Zealand Politics, no man oan, or will say, that he has enriched himself at the expense of the State. Although he has been a oompamons of evil doers, he is not of them. Coming to New Zealand, like the portion of the New' Zealand colonists, with the hope "of getting on" he has kept his own hands clean, and allowed others, with whom, he has been officially connected, to begrime theirs ■■-• with ' official uncleanness, And herein tbe singular feature of Mr Bollestdn's character's is found. Although he would not tell a lie himself, he consorts with those who do. Although he has not plundered the public estate himself, he has become associated with those who hare done so. That he has firmness of purpose is manifest from his own integrity; that he; has not fulfilled the responsibility inoident to hil training and his environments is pal* pable from his public life. ■■ ■ As a Minister of the Crown he is only m this sketoh regarded. 'His Canterbury career is allowed to remain m abeyance. The most remarkable feature m his official life is his silence m the House of Representatives. At the latter end of the last session he . alluded to this unusual reticence, when he was told that he did not speak as often as he ou?ht. He is the strongest man m the Ministry ; he carries more weight m the House of Bepresentatives than any of his colleagues; and. yet strange to say is the mosttaoiturn. He is believed 1 more readily than any other Minister, amd is perhaps m consequence, the more careful what he says. He never shuffles like the Premier, nor indulges m political romance like the Colonial; Treasurer. He patronises no man, like the Minister for Public Works does Messrs Macandrew and Richardson; and eschews the pious hardihood which made the Native. Minister say that he never told a lie m his life. And there he sits on the Trea* sury benches day after day, night after night, never speaking unless compelled te do so, yet- watohf ul of all that transpires. His face is impassive unless m debate; but the careful observer at times can read m his eye, or his manner, his disapproval of the actions of his colleagues, or a mild curious kind of contemplation, when he hears the truth knowingly eschewed. The official fault of Mr Bolleston, is a leek of force of character. He knows what is right, but he does not insist on his colleagues doing what is right. There is never any doubt m his own mind as to what is right. There is never any doubt m his own. mind as to what is right for- him to do m private affairs, but m publio matters he suffers himself to be led astray. Some critics say that he halts between two opinion too -often. Others call him an undecided pedant. This is hardly, though nearly, the truth. ■He allows himself to he overruled. He bears the burdens, at times, of other men's sins, He has.no hatred for a brown skin— yet he allows the, hatred of some of his colleagues, and 'the indifference of other, to mske him a a participator m acts of injustice, A warm friend of the Native net » his hewt, he allows prudential eoa-

sidsrationi to keep his tongue mute, and his feelings stagnant. In the Maori debates of lMt session, he took no part. Although mentally and morally superior to his colleagues, his superiority is allowed to remain dormant. He has refrained from speaking his mind. He has neglected the exercise of his superiority. He has allowed things to pass unchallenged which his soul abhorred. If there was one Canterbury man above all others to whom the poor, or the oppressed or the suffering should hare looked to with more confidence than to another, it was to Mr William Rolleston. Her Majesty's subjects reposed this trust m his repute when he took office — they were told to do so by those who thought they knew the man thoroughly : — they have looked to him m rain. He has dishonored the traditions of his order, and shtwn that an English gentleman transplanted m New Zealand has been unable to respond to the responsibilities of his position. Neither lias conscience nor thepcople will assoil him. He occasionally lose 3 his temper iv the House. This is when he is writhing under the reproach of conniving at the iniquity of others. This anger is the sign of the honesty of his nature. He is je»luus of his honor, and sees daily that his hands are externally clean ; but the strangest thing is that he cannot see how the dirt has got under the akin, from constant association with men who hold honor as nought, and all the water m existence cannot wash it out. It is like coloring matter under the skin, infiltrated through its pores. He is a man possessed of so few angles that his actions alone form pegs ns it were on which to hang description. What could be more unfortunate that his removal of Judge Shaw P Mr Mansford did not die of heart disease, but of bronchial affection. Mr Bolleston holds the portfolio of the Minister for Justice. What could be insane than the proposal to assign convicts to employers m New Zaland P Yet this proposal came from Mr Bolleston. What was more unfair and anwise for a Minister to do than to tell the Wellington Small Farm Association that land for Special Settlements was reserved alone for English | capitalist* ? Yet Mr Relleston did this. i Knowing every intricacy of the West Coast iniquity, what position could be more painful for a honorable man to occupy, than to i Bit and his colleagues endeavor to mislead the House P Yet Mr Bolleston has occupied this position. Mr Bolleston at times, but rarely indulges m pretty and unworthy reprisals on his politioal opponents. Leb us give an instance of this meanness so unworthy of him. It was womanish almost. In i 879 there was brought into the House of Eepresentatives • Bill called " The Whakatane Grants Validation Bill." Thou pure minded patriots who love Ifew Zealand for what they can get out of her coffers — men like the Honorable Daniel Pollen — sought to make political capital out of a harmless measure, because the Hon Colonel Whitmore had assisted from his own means, a brother officer to place some stock on a portion of the Whakatane lands. All the pure patriots with their aoso to the ground yelped loudly " A job !." There was no man who knew betttr than Mr Bolleston how unfounded was the cry, how false was the s^enfc. Last session Sir George had occasion to remark that the Ministry wished to enrich their friends at the public expense, by the bestowal of publio lands. Mr Bolleston had just come into the House and asked Sir George what lands ho meant. •On being told, he said " I thought the honorable gentleman was alluding to Whakatane." Many people who heard the remark knew not its 'spite — knew not how unworthy and unfounded was the* inuendo. The specials m the gallery say that Mr Bolleston is the only gentleman m the Cabinet, although he is only a small farmer. — Wairarapa Standard.