THE NORTHERN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4748, 3 February 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NORTHERN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

JSV NGATIAWA. The North OLayo Time* contains a sketch of the new members of the House of Representatives. We give to-day soma of the portraits :—

The Province of Auckland, in marked contrast to Wellington, returns _to the General Assembly eighteen European elective representatives', of whom no iess than thirteen had no seat in the Parliament torminatingmlS7s. Hence, possibly, the pro.tracted character of the session, as young members waiit a considerable amount: of training ere they get well broken into harness. The following are the names of those (of the eighteen) wno sat in the House the previous session—Sir George Grey, Messrs. O'Rbrke, Sheehan, Swanson, and Reader Wood. It is as well, perhaps, to take the Auckland members in alphabetical order, thus precluding the making any invidious distinctions as to merit or capacity; and following this rule, • _' Mr. Alfred Cox, the member for Waipa, comes first on the list Sitting within a dozen yards of the Speaker's .qhair, and; almost immediately below the reporting staff, the ; member for .Waipa has every facility given to him to be clearly heard and understood. Yet; such is the.peculiarly smothered and indistinct delivery of the gentleman— loudly enough he speaks—that he is far more difficult to catch than is the Minister j forPublic Works, when the House, in the afjter-; noon sitting, is buzzing, asking and answering questions, and rendering the hearing of any speaker almost impossible. A man of dignified mien and imposing carriage is Mr. Cox, with a perfectly bland delivery—a smile, 6t" "something resembling a' anjile, always on "liis face—whether approving or condeniing, whether arguing against! anopponent, or to the best of his ability, supporting his friends. He speaks with a general uniformity of tone which.irritation' does not increase, nor an attempt at deprecation soften. ■ He is a man of considerable firmness of opinion—one not easily swayed hither and thither by the artifices of Party, or the wishes of his constituents, as he toldthe flouse in the famous Piako Swamp debate. He was then reproved by Sir George Grey and others for having voted contrary to the telegraphed wishes of his constituents, and said while sitting in that House he knew better what was for the interests of the district he represented than any dweller therein could, not being there present. What could have induced the member for Waipa to leave his home and his heavy responsibilities, to enter the arena of political warfare, is one of those difficult: and complex .problems so often presented in political. affairs. Of Mr. Cox, it may be safely affirmed that ho will shine neither as an orator or as a statesman, and that he affords an example of those who get a seat in the House for a session, and then their place knows them no more Mr. Cox was a consistent Government supporter. I ■ •• Patrick Digxan, the member for Auckland City East,' is a inau of a very different type. A Celt of the Celts, his friends and admirers generally shorten the Patrick to "Pat," when either speaking of him or to him: His name is a household word in the town of Auckland, both among men, women, and children. Unfaltering in friendship, firm as a pelron where rectitude is concerned —or what he considers to be such—threats, taunts, cojolery, can sway him not in the slightest degree ; and up to the last manifestation of tlie aberration of intellect on the part of Sir George Grey, the member for Auckland City West was found among the faithful three or four who still cleaved unwaveringly to the man his followers at times call "New Zealand's great proConsul." Yet Air. Dignan sees through spectacles not his own. His judgment in matters political is influenced by his'■surroundings. He is one of a party, and he thinks and he feels as one of its component parts. ■ He speaks seldom in tho Houso, and then only in low tones. Attempt at speech-making he never tries, generally confining himself to tho asking of questions for the better guidance of his judgment. A man whose life, manner, and appearance is eminently respectable, rorainding one of what Mr. Dignan, to his credit be it said, appears to be—an Irishman transplanted to a favourable clime, where he Has nourished, and found prosperity through his own exertions, his strong sterling sense, and his assiduity in business. I need hardly add that to the Catholic vote he owed his presence in the House of Representatives.

Sir Robert Douolas has gaiued experience in the tented as well as the agricultural field, and it is probably the neglect he sustained at the hands of the Provincial Government of Auckland which induced him to take a part of the politics of the day. Sir Robert is no party man—can scarcely be said to have definite opinions on any matters political whatever —feels at one period in a debate that auch a conviction is correct, Inter that its correctness is out of tho question altogether, and halts, as he halted all the session through, between conflicting opinions. His political world appears to be " Marsden," and his the outlaying districts north of the town of Auckland ; a mim great on agricultural societies and County libraries, and one who has no small idea of the importance of his own ability or the correctness of the ultimate conviction he may adopt. Possessed of a good delivery and an easy manner, he talks glibly enough; but the Houre heeds little what he says. He cleaves to no party, and, therefore, cannot by any Ministry bo depended on. Ebenezeh Hamlin.— When the member for Rodney tirst took his seat in the House, he compared himself "to tho voice of oue crying in the wilderness," and in doing so evinced no large amount of modesty. Ebenezer Hamlim, like Mr. John Sheehau, is a Colonial production, and betrays no more modesty of deportment than did the member for Rodney—in fact, far less. Ho is harderand coarser, and far less educated than the Maori advocate. He ia Bucolic in appearance, Bucolic in thought, Bucolic in manner. Unlike Sir Robert Douglas he baa settled opinions on all things, from the expediency of the inscription of bauk stock, to the inexpediency of tlio introduction of vignerons for the cultivation of the vine. The member for Frauklyn is no respector of persons. He would as soon pit himself againat tho member for Tiuiaru as he would against Sir Robert Douglas, or the member for Waipa. Bred in a parish from whence he hardly ever emerged, his political opinions are more parochial than provincial. He has no power of generalization whatever. His intellect is especially adapted for the inspection of microcosms. He has an objectable manner in the House. He reclines at length on the bench he occupies, and claps his hands and cheers in stentorian tones when his friends make a hit. Ou all occasions when the debate goes against him his loud " No ! No !" can be heard all through the Chamber; while his ruddy face beams with enjoyment as though he were chasing a wild bull or indulging in some kind of horse play. The man may be' considered honest; but he is young, untaught, aud only occupies a political position because he follows Sir Ueorge Grey, through whose instrumentality lSs seat was secured.

Mr. Hucni Hart Losk.—The other member for Iranklyn, Mr. Luak, ia totally unlike his confrere. An easy, graceful, and fluent speaker ; a man well informed on all matters of Lolomal policy ; one who has had a considerable amount of experience in the management of the affairs of tho Province of Auckland; the professor of a ready and eloquent pen ; although a lawyer, yet a journalist; possessed of considerable subtlety of thought and logical acumen, probably induced by his legal training. Mr. Lusk will set his mark on tho pages o£ our Colonial history, and may be considered as °??,.. of our ria "Dg statesmen. As far as ability is concerned, Messrs. Sheohan and Lusk, with the exception of Sir George Grey, aie the ablest representatives returned by the Province of Auckland. Mr. Lusk, like the Member for Rodney, lias a craze about Native affairs. They both consider they could manage them better than Sir l>. McLean, ihey are both strong Provincialists, or profess to be—but many dwellers in tho 1 rovince of Auckland entertain grave doubts as to their sineority, and declare that their political principles are as uncertain as those of Mr. Header Wood. Mr Lusk when speaking, docs not forget that he profeseess to be a gentleman, and though he may utter that which all his hearers know to be unfcure, thero ia an apparent air of sincerity about his manner that would deceive the nearer. Hounded and graceful as his periods are, they rarely carry conviction, remiuding the reporter of tho voice of the special pleader and the sophistry of the paid advocate. In fact there is too much lega} talent

of the Premier of tho colony? Tho men of past reputation,' with one exception—the Hon. Mr. Fox—have either out-lived their

day or their greatness. In fact, it appears to the reporters of the House thati.they must have had. their greatness "thrust upon them;" probably "distance lends enchantment to the view." The impres-. sion which Mr. Whitaker has left on the

House, aud on a large portion *bf the country, is not that he is insincere, but that he is untrustworthy. He is viewed with suspicion by those who appear to have known him for many years, as well as by those who heard him for the first time during the past session. He committed two legal blunders in constitutional matters, for which Acts of Indemnity had to be passed ; and I venture to think it probable, that when a reconstruction of the Ministry takes place, the Hon. Frederick Whitaker will not be found sitting at the Ministerial table. In fact, the condition made by that gentleman before joining the Ministry, that he should reside in Auckland during the recess, is a just and sufficient reason why he should not hold office in the Executive Council.

Mr. William Lee Rees, the member for Auckland City-East, is certainly a remarkable man. • Well read in law and divinity, he also desires to be considered a politician and a financier. To talk is no trouble to him whatever, on any subject at any moment, and he is alike regardless of accuracy or thefeelings of others. Bis voice is.harsh.and unpleasing, but his mode of delivery impressive. When he first came into the House he was intolerable, but towards the end of the session he improved considerably. He became less coarse in his imagery, and less virulent in his invective. He commenced with the apparent conviction that abuse would be more effective in the .House.than.argument. -It is-seldom that Mr.- Rees goes into a question in a logical manner; ! He prefers frothy declamation. Yet when a legal inquiry arises he is as keen I as any of hia brethren of the long robe. When the famous question of the invalidity of I nine European members holding office arose, it was Mr. Rees who persisted, despite all sneering and'opposition, in maintaining that, the Ministry had no right to ' act as Minis-! ters, and his view was afterwards sustained by the passing of the Executive Councillors Indemnity Bill. He wrote, some two years since, a pamphlet on the financial position of the Colony of New Zealand, which attracted a considerable amount of attention, as no person could nnderstand what the writer intended to prove, or where he obtained his data. His personal antipathy to Sir Julius Vogel colours all his statements, and distorts what facts may be given to him by others. His financial ability is on a par with that of the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse : in fact, the critiques made on our financial position by those two gontlomon would, to a stranger, seem to have emanated from the same source. It is difficult to understand what purpose Mr. Rees can serve in the House, besides that of being the first lieutenant to Sir George Grey. He was aseful, of course, in the stone-wall debate, and there his usefulness to his party ended, save when they wanted him to insult the Canterbury members, or utter tirades of abuse against the Ministry. And yet he can speak with a great deal of humour, and keep the House convulsed with laughter. When the Hon. Georgo McLean brought down an array of figures showing the reduction of expenditure that would accrue from the abolition of Provincialism, Mr. Rees was particularly happy, and put the matter so grotesquely before the House that both sides rung with the mirtli evoked ; while hia badgered antagonist sat at the Ministerial table in aught but au enviable frame of mind. When the Premier pounces down on tho financial ravings of the member for Auckland City East, and analyses what lias been stated, Mr. Itees sits and listens with a puzzled, goodhumoured air, and, shaking his head, strives with all his financial understanding to find out what the Premier means ; but tries in vain. He ia ultimately obliged to give the question up, and when opportunity oscuis makes tho same rebutted statements over and over again. Tt would bo a fortunate thing for Mr. Rees, his family, his profession, and the good of the colony were ho again to retire into private life. In such a character as 1 have attempted to portray, by inference, littlo delicacy of feeling can be expected. His diatribe against Lady Vogel's hospitality while she was sitting in the ladies' gallery was perhaps the most indelicate and scandalous abuse of privilege yet heard in our Parliamentary debates. His politics are the jjolitics of Sir George Grey.

Mr. William Rowe, one of the members for the Thames, is unlike any other man in the House. He is what he pretends to be, and what no other member of the House of Representatives has yet been— a miners' representative in the proper sense of the term ; Mr. Rowe being a practical miner himself. As such, he knows what the mining; population require, and can put in plain though homely language before tho Houso the ivants of his constituents. He is a fluent and excitable speaker. His training and education arc both manifested in his delivery. He cares not much whether the letter h is silent or sounded ; is not always careful in making his verbs agree with their nominatives; and ignores the use of the infinitive mood, and many other things which graceful orators take care to observe. Ho is not peculiarly chaste in his imagery, but is vehement in denunciation. He hates Provincialism as he distrusts Mr. Rees, and has a pious and devout honor of political shams of all kinds. Mr. Rowe makes no pretension to statesmanship. He contents himself with representing his constituents, and drawing inferences from his own varied experience as to what will be for the benefit of the people generally. Mr. Rowe has a watchword, " Land, roads, and education for the people !" and this he maintains the Provincial Government of Auckland have never given to the people of Hauraki. I have dallied too long over the province of Auckland, and have still four members left —Messrs. Tole, Tonks, Whitaker, and Williams.

Mr. Tolk, the member for Eden, owes his presence in the House to the same iulluence as Mr. r>ignan. He occupies the seat once held by one of our leading journalists—Mr. R. Creighton. Mr. Tole is a young man, ar.d a younger lawyer. He has the misfortune thus early in life to fall into bad hands. He takes no prominent part in debate, but is assiduous in attendance ou his duties, aa though he felt determined to educate himself in all the topics of the day as they are discussed in the House. When he does speak his delivery is pleasing ; aud he never wanders away from the point under debate as many older and experienced politicians so constantly are in the habit of doing.

Neither Mr. Tonics nor Mr. .Williams call for any particular meution, being useful men of business only. But there nnietbe hewers of wood and drawers of water in matters connected with the body politic as in every other vocation in life. Mr. Tonks seems to have had no definite political opinions when he entered the House, as, though he was returned pledged to support Sir George, he only gave him a lukewarm adherence Mr. Williams made no sign worth noting.

The Hon. Frederick Wiiita.ee r, tho member for Waikato, is a man "f whom great things were expected on his return to political life. The legend has been handed down from one Parliament to another that in the days of the past " there were giants " in the House of .Representatives, and that the men of the present day are pigmies in comparison. The Attorney-General was considered a Goliath among those sons of Anak, and deeds of prowess were expected from his legal skill and Parliamentary tactics. But no such result accrued during thepast session of Parliament. The AttorneyGeneral is not even a first-class debater. His iteration is painful—travelling over the same ground again and<again when speaking on any subject, and clothing the same thoughts in different phraseology, being his marked fault as a speaker The weakness of the Attorney-General is nowhere more manifested than when he has charge of a bill which ho wishes to force through committee. One is involuntarily reminded of the tact aud discretion on such occasions which Sir Julius Vogel used to display—and the result of the comparison is by no means favourable to ths Attorney-General. His adhesion to the Ministry has in no manner been a source of strength, but rather the reverse. Tho member for Waikato has an idea evidently that he is one of the leading statesmen of the colony, or on what other gronnd could he have had the assurance to ask and the temerity to claim precedence in the House altogether—no less than ftvo legal gentlemen being returned from the Province of Auckland. ..Mr, Lusk is a stern

and strong Provincialise, and a firm sup porter of Sir George.Grey. . l Mr. J. S. MACFARLANEis ashrewd man of business, which he understands far better than politics. He interferes little in debate often giving a silent vote, and makea no attempt whatever at oratory. Ha-1 many other members followed his example- the business of the country would have progressed far more rapidly. . Mr. George Bbntuam Morris, the Member for the East Coast, in point of ability ranks next, among the members so hurriedly limned, to Mr. Hugh Hart Lusk. HeconJ tested his seat with Captain Read, who was unseated for bribery. The present member is evidently preferable to the one unseated, tie speaks fluently and.to the'point on any subject he may understand, and will, after some experience, obtain a respectablo status among his brother representatives. He has, for some years past, taken an active interest in the affairs on the East Coast. He took his seat at an advanced period of the session, and left early. His friends consider he will make a successful politician, and some even go so far as to assert that he may in the future hold office. He was elected as a Provincialist, hut voted generally with the Ministry.