NOTES ON PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4193, 28 August 1874, Page 3

NOTES ON PARLIAMENT.

Under this heading the special correspondent of the Southern Cross writes : There are two things I much admire in the House of Representatives—yea, three, which call forth my .surprise. One is the good nature, the patience,. and forbearance of the Premier, whom nightly a pair of cynical (from their tone and temper in debate the adjective in, its radical meaning is singularly applicable) Oppositionists assail in a manner which would lead one to suppose they had studiously forgotten the customary proprieties which bound even political disputation. Mr. Vogel has studied to great advantage the motto on the counters, “ keep your temper.” I fancy he does “keep” a temper, but it is rarely let loose ; and the forbearance, the mild deprecation, with the occasionally sarcastic yet smiling and jocose taunt he throws at his assailants —all the more keenly felt because jocose, irritates them and makes them first unconsciously angry 'with themselves for making a weak exhibition, and secondly angry with those who differ from them and help to cause the display ; and all this culminates in temper, and, I think, improper language. I admire, in the sense of being astonished at, the temerity of the trusty and well beloved Superintendent of Wel : lington. The daring of the man is nearly as unique as the tedious turgidity of his language. Regarding the latter qualification the stream of words flows on more bounteously than ever. If the honorable gentleman had to make the familiar quotation that a certain “ custom is more honored', in the. breach than tlie observance,” he would place it thus : “ And, Sir, let me tell you and this House, and I say it with all that due seriousness and gravity which the occasion deserves, that the practice or custom followed in regard of these debentures, if it is custom—and I do not doubt that this-House will agree with me in thinking that what is frequently practised may be fairly considered to be, and bo denominated aa being d custom—would be more honored, more respected, and generally tend to produce happier results and consequences by what is generally termed—and in using tho word I mean neither the nether bifurcated garments worn by the adults of the masculine gender of our species in civilised communities, nor tho butt-end of those death-dealing implements employed in modem warfare—the breach than in the observance, celebration, or what not.” I declare there is very little of caricature in this picture. This is very nearly a counterpart of his periphrastic transformation of tho familiar phrase “in at one earandoutnt tho other," which produced a good deal of laughter, chiefly

at the performer. He revels in mere wordy utterances, usually in very complete sentences with sometimes quaint illustrations, which, however, have often little meaning, and, ■therefore, “ little relevancy 31 bear to the matter in hand. It ' can only be the temerity of desperation which drives Sir. Fitzherbert to hunt for small flaws, and to perform denunciatory feats regarding what he admits are but trifles, even if he were right in his conception of the finance of the Province. Knowing what he knows about his own financial dealings; knowing, too, that Mr. Vogel knows them full well, he must calculate on that good nature and" forbearance, that quiet endurance of what is almost insolence, if not insult, forty-nine .men out of fifty could not exercise. Who merits a more severe castigation for worse than reckless finance, for open disregard of law in dealing with the public moneys, than Mr. F’itzherbert ? Who knows that fact better than the Premier, and who than- ho could administer with keener effect the due punishment which a presuming culprit draws down upon himself ? Hence, I marvel much that Mr. Pitzherbert challenges the criticism to which he is so obnoxious, and which will one day come and damage him politically, far more than he at present imagines.