Notes on Politicians.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 17

Notes on Politicians.

“ Timotheua placed on high ’* looks down through many uninteresting days and weary nights on the fortuitous concourse of legislating atoms heueath him, and occasionally, observes with a ouriouß eye lively scenes that lighten the burdens of his otherwise sorrowful existence. 'Be note 3 the peculiarities, and the strong and weak points of honorable members, their comings in and their goings out, and their styles generally ; and he hands them down to posterity in imperishable embalmment through the medium of this most veracious chioniole.

Sir George Grey is, of course, the moat notable of those members whose striking "fads” commend them to the eye of the oaßual historian. Every session sees Sir George with the usual array of Bills For Giving Everybody Everything, The Elective Governors Bill, Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill, and Law Practitioners Bill are all equally well known to us. The Law Practitioners Bill is one on passing which he has set bis heart. When it becomes law the human race will be better off. You shall he abb to “ go through the Court ” at a trifling cost, appeals, motions, summonses, and so on will not frighten yon, and advice will be dear at any price. We shall have A Good Time generally. Meanwhile we languish in comparative destitution, principally because Mr Samuel stands between us and Canaan.

Mr Samuel himself has a few pet theories, one of which is the amelioration of the wroDgs of the human race by an amendment of the divorce law. Hitherto the House has not been kind to this Bill—something fatal has always happened to the measure- But Mr Samuel bobs up Berenely every session, Divorce Bill in hand, puts his two hands far down into his breeches pockets, and exhausts the divorce subject, dropping some of his h’s and all his final g’s with diabolical consistency en route, but making a sound and able speech withal. On Harbour Bills, also, Mr Samuel is very strong.

Those identical Harbour Bills are extremely tryina. ' On some fine Thursday afternoon the Order Paper will contain the names of four or five little Bills of no apparent im. portanoe, and the man in the gallery will shake hands with himself over the refleo ion that "there’s nothing in them.” But lo! when they are called on it transpires that there is one inoffensive looking Harbonr Bill, which, if it were passed, would destroy the credit of the Colony, reduce the people to misery and want, and make things nncomfortable in a general way. Straightway Dr Newman will rise from that snug corner of bis and demolish that Bill in chirpy style, keeping time with his good right hand, Mr Hutohison, grandiosely, bland and affected, sticks cruel knives into the corpse, and possibly Mr Mills will also say a few pleasant things as a sort of funeral oration. Exit the Harbour Bill.

There is a lawyers’ corner iu the House where it is suspected many of these atta ks arc originated, where Mr W. P. Reeves, Dr Fitchett, Mr Hutchison, and Mr Fitzherbert sit, with the mighty Seddon in front of them like a bulwark. A very warm corner indeed, look you. Mr Reeves, who is an opposition lieutenant, is an exceedingly plain spoken gentleman on occasion, and a vigorous debater, and has a casty sarcastic way of putting in a “ hear, hear,” or some other relevant interjection at the right time. Dr Fitchett is also a formidable individual, the more so since he bas become hardened against draughts, and does not go about the Chamber with a red handkerchief tied round the bead which, if the popular impression be oorreot, is a sort of encvclopediacnl aggregation of universal knowledge. Then there is Mr Hntchison, almost the cleverest man in the House, much given to fishing for Mr Fergns. and occasionally catching him ; and Mr Fitzherbert,whose strong point is that he does not talk much.

Less extreme in ali respects, excepting his ambition for celebrity as a reformer, is Major Steward, who has not been a strong party man ainoe in the good old times Mr Montgomery, Sir George Grey, and the Canterbury members united in patting him np to oast the Atkinson-Bryce-Bolleston Ministry. When the mode of electing lioeneing and school committees is altered, and the onmnlative vote is gone, Major Steward will retire on bis laurels, venerable beard, straight-cut clothes, and all. For the present the seven-headed cumulative vote rears its head proudly and stalks through the land unharmed ; but Major Steward vill track it to its lair some day and incontinently Rlav it. Like vi r Samuel at the Divorce Bill, he will hammei away perand hit his thumb sometimes, but at last the n*il will bo drivtn ho ae and the country will be free • gain t

If the Res'ion is not v- ry short, there are many perennial features that have yet to be brought out in order to impart a harmonious consistency to the t* nth Parliament. Mr M OBR, for instance, has not yet had an opportunity of preac l ing against b rrowing and the property Lx ; and the estimates will give Mr Goldie an other oc nomistß an opportunity for d zz'me, *h<- Hrmse with a few remark" thorn, oofi'int; down ‘alaries. Mr Brnoe has already r Q rnii><bd ua of the tar-Rwav period m the sunny R. ringtime of fcia youth when he i> .» anmethirg on the Mississippi, but Dr Hodgkinsou’s local government- scheme is as yet in the future. If the San Francisco mail service is to be discussed Mr Ward will come down to the Hou-e with an extensive speech on the subject, and will talk figures nntil honest men in the reporter’s gniiery will lay down their pencils and stare at him in black stupefaction. Mr Wilson's annual education upheaval has not happened yet, usd Mr TursbkU has

only"asked one question about finance. Mr Pyke’s new draught-board overcoat must mean something, but at present no one can say what, - r Lines, air Beetham, Mr Buchanan, and Mr Kerr are going to talk stock questions to death as soon as circumstances will permit; the Californian thistle will be eradicated root and branch by, Mr T. Mackenzie $ and Mr J. McKenzie and Mr Duncan are to express an opinion that the land policy of Mr G. F. Richardson is what keeps the country depressed. We have all these things on the very best authority. But if Mr Ballanee should oust the Government, then good bye all bright expeetations of future joy for the people and the State ; farewell, a long farewell to many a talkative man and fruitful measure. For many are nominated, but few are chosen 1.