THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1896.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10302, 30 November 1896, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1896.

Morp than ordinary interest attaches to the contest in the Manukau electorate, from the fact that one of the candidates, Sir Maurice O'Rorke, has for over thirty years, with only a single break, represented the district in Parliament, and the further fact that he has for a considerable period held the high office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. A second consideration that'lends interest to the struggle in the Manukau is the fact that it is -a contest ..between, two past representatives of the district, and that in their persons ' they severally maintain I the. distinct interests of the Government, and of the Opposition. The position of Sir.Maurice O'Rorke is in many respects a unique one, bearing with it advantages and likewise disadvantages, . It is :, no mean reoord ■ to .• have borne the trust committed^ to him by a constituency for a period equivalent to the greater part of a man's < working : lifetime, and to have returned so often for re-election tofind that confidence reposed in him unimpaired;,; although ~Jt may T seem' like-j tempting ' fate to put that ; confidence to its utmost tension "by asking for a'; continuance of that position of which he has ; had so ' long ; an. exclusive ,1 enjoyment against all the rest of the world. Sir Maurice appears ; ■ to have. thought'; so himself; but his , judgment has been overridden by others, who probably are not gifted with his sagacity, and who may i have allowed ■• their own per-

soual wishes tto ovreshadow r 'pruden-, tial considerations. That Sir Maurice is acting imprudently for his own in-, terests, and for the honours which' he has so worthily won and worn, we have not any doubt whatever, and his best friends must repret that he has listened to the thoughtless advice of those who have tempted hira away from the wise course he had laid out for himself, and which he once so graphically and aptly described by saying that " with an old horse that has served you well, the best' and kindest thing you can do is to turn him out to grass for the rest of his years." Sir Maurice has put aiido that prudent 'thought, and has entered again for a race, the result of which can add nothiug to the many and great parliamentary honours he has' ? won, 1 and may lead—not to speak more definitely— disappointment, and to his' retiring from the • arena of politics, with the loss of that honour which would certainly remain with him now if he retired without venturing again into the risky paths of public life. Sir Maurice was the best Speaker that this, or perhaps any other of the Australasian colonies ever had, and for many yean under his guidance—in which courtesy and firmness were' admirably bleuded— conduct of the New Zealand House of Representatives was recognised as a pattern to all the colonies. It is doubtful, however,, if some of the incidents of the past Parliament and the past session, more particularly the interference of Ministers with his duties, will not raise questions as to whether the firmness of rule has not somewhat left the exSpeaker, and whether in a House differently constituted, as the next House will be, his authority will be such as to cany with it the acquiesceuce of all parties in the Assembly. Of course it would be improper to blame Sir Maurice for what Mr. John McKenzie or Mr. Seddon may have done. Still, it will seem to many of his best well-wishers that it would be unfair to Sir Maurice and his useful and distinguished past, to subject him to interferences with which lie may not be able to cope, and so wither the laurels which he has won and worn so well. Under all circumstances, they are no true friends of his who have been inducing Sir Maurice to recede from the wise resolution he had formed to take this opportunity of enjoying the otium cum dignitate to which ho is so well entitled. Sir Maurice O'Rorke has nothing whatever to gain and much to lose in running for Parliament, or even being elected to the House should it so happen, and those who are parties to this unwise procedure, are subordinating his well-being and honour to their own selfish wishes.

However, we have to regard him as a candidate for the Manakau,and as such a very subservient follower of Mr. Seddon. In his position „as Speaker, he has not been so cpnspicuously a supporter of the policy of the Government as if he had been op. the floor of the House, but his unreserved and pronounced approval of all that the Government has done, places him in the ranks of those who gave such an unreasoning following to Ministers during the past session, With adisingenuousness that we should not have expected from Sir Maurice O'Rorke, he identifies Liberalism with the course of policy of the present Government. Sir Maurice, who once was a Liberal among Liberals, knows as well as anyone, that the course pursued by the present administration is as opposed to the true principles of Liberalism as anything can be; and that he is so blinded as not to recognise the difference—if he does not really recognise it— may assume to be part of that decadence whereunder the exSpeaker is himself so different from the Sir Maurice O'Rorke that used to be. That old feelings of friendship for their long time representative should move many in the Manukau electorate to cast their votes for Sir Maurice O'Rorke is reasonable to expect; but interests graver far than those of friendship are involved in this election. The time is one of real crisis in the interests of the country, and the man is a poor patriot, and dead to the general interest, who will not sink minor considerations for the safety of the country. Under the present administration the country is drifting towards unmeasurable dangers, and every man that gives a vote to strengthen the present party in power is striking a blow against every real interest in the State. With increasing public burdens, reckless finance, and disturbing and harassing legislation, we can hardly tell what is coming next, and if the existing Government meets Parliaments with a majority in its support, we do not hesitate to say that the past in but a limited foretaste of what the Government will have in store.

In Mr Buckland the Opposition candidate for Manukau, if it elects him, will have one of the most fearless, outspoken critics of the Government policy to be found within the walls of the Assembly. So much does the Government recognise this, that it is understood to have put forth all its strength to prevent his being elected. Indeed it is very well known that had Mr. Buckland not been standing for election, Sir Maurice O'Rorke would have been allowed to carry out his settled desire, and to retire on his laurels. Bub Mr. Buckland was too vigilant and too restless a critic of the Government, and altogether such a thorn in its side, that semething required to be done to prevent his return to the House. That something seemed to be the return of the ex-Speaker info the troubled seas of political life, and. in obedience to the strong will of his political chief Sir Maurice had not the force of character to refuse. It seems a cruel thing to have exacted this service of an obedient and useful servant as Sir Maurice had shown' himself to be, but every one'si interest must yield to the exigencies : of the ; party that is determined :to j keep the - grip ;on power; and ; the j electors of theV Manukau are called to confirm; the edict of the Minister. £ It is to be, hoped, however,' that they will show their determination to shake off the incubus under which their district, in common with other; suburban and rural districts has been suffering, and that' they .will at once spare >their• old member,; Sir Maurice O'Rorke, from" further, humiliation at the hands ;of Ministers, and ; provide themselves in Mr. W. F. Buckland with one of the most< alert, vigorous, and determined members in the Assembly, ;'