OUR COMMONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1053, 4 September 1879, Page 2

OUR COMMONS.

Mr. Thomas Dick, who headed the poll for Dunedin the other day, is one of the old stock—one of those to whom, in the early days of Otago, the province delighted to do honor. He has, however, for many years held aloof from political life, and has devoted his energies to matters of a social and less stirring nature ; but the cries of the Bible in Schools and the Local Option Bill have roused within him the old fire, and induced him once more to take up arms and " off to the wars again " —this time to do battle on behalf of the Scriptures and aqiia pura. Many years ago, Mr. Dick held a seat in the Supreme Legislature of the Colony, but we fear that his career as a member of the House of Representatives was not a very brilliant one. At present we cannot remember a single noteworthy action, any measure of importance, that the senior member for Dunedin left on the records of Parliament to show that he had been one of the young nation's earliest legislators. Mr. Dick also, many years ago, held the post of Superintendent of the Province, at a time, we believe, when Otago'sidol (Mr. Macandrew) was " under a cloud," to use a common expression; but he did not occupy the position long, for Mr. Macandrew again came to the front, and the electors gave Mr. Dick notice to quit. Then, again, Mr. Dick failed to give any evidence of the possession of a creative mind—a mind capable of originating anything calculated to promote the prosperity of the country. Mr. Dick is unquestionably a firm admirer of the line in the " Auld Scotch sang," which says " Creep afore ye gang," and it is probable that had he ruled Otago until now, she would have been creeping still. As Mr. Dick's whole heart is in the causes that he has chiefly been sent to Parliament to advocate, his voice will unquestionably be heard in the House cf Representatives to some effect on the subjects of Bible reading in Schools and the Local Option Bill, and he may yet leave behind him some " footprints on the sands of time." He is a very good speaker, but his oratory is of that order which is more fitted to the public lecture room or the pulpit than to a Legislative Assembly. Mr. W. Montgomery, who has again been returned unopposed for Akaroa, was one of the foremost men in the last House of Representatives, and has frequently been pointed to as the man most likely to lead the Liberal party in the event of the retirement of Sir George Grey. He has sat in Parliament for Akaroa for many years—-.we forget the number—and has generally taken a prominent part in all important debates. Being connected with commerce, he naturally turns a good deal of his attention to finance, and during several sessions he has been the only member found willing to perform the unpleasant duty of discussing the financial condition of the Colony. When the Grey Ministry was formed it was anticipated that Sir. Montgomery would be included in its ranks, but for some unexplained cause Mr. Montgomery does not appear anxious to become one of the responsible advisers of the Governor. He is a clear and effective speaker, and would grace a more exalted position than that of a humble follower of the Ministry. But Mr. Montgomery, although a supporter of the present Ministry, hns been one of the severest critics of many of their measures. His return to the House is a matter for congratulation, for he is one of those men whose services we could ill afford to dispense with.

Mr. William Swanhon, for many years member for Newton, Auckland, has long enjoyed the rejmtation of being the most open-naturecl and out-spoken member of the Legislature. He is not much of a public speaker, and is entirely a self-made man ; but lie has the liappy knack of saying just what lie thinks in language plain and unadorned. Of his integrity and honesty 110 man dare say a disparaging word ; all parties give him credit for the possession of these qualities to an eminent degree. Thus it is that " Willy " Swanson, as his friends call him, is respected and admired by all members of Parliament, and that his absence from the Senate Chamber would cause a blank not easily filled up. Mr. Richard Oliver, another of the chosen of Dunedin, is comparatively a young politician. He has represented Dunedin in the House for two sessions, and was previously a Provincial Councillor, but has not shown any extraordinary amount of legislative talent. He was forced into prominence last session by a report being circulated when he " ratted" to the effect that he was to become one of the new Cabinet under Sir William Fox ; but " the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley," and Mr. Oliver, instead of becoming a Minister, was sent back to his constituents to undergo the drudgery of an election campaign as the only reward for his desertion of party, if not of principles. However, he has the sweet consolation of knowing that, if he never gets a seat on the Treasury benches, he has been very near reaching the goal, and would probably have arrived there safely had it not been for a well-directed kick from the captain of the other side. He is a moderate speaker, with pretty clear powers of perception, and must be ranked as one of the second-rate men of the House—at all events, he is somewhat above the tag-rag and bob-tail that invariably make - up the tails of both parties. Mr. W. Downie Stewart, the third member for Dunedin, had previously been a legislator for a few weeks, and has had to undergo the trouble and expense of two elections in one year. He spoke pretty frequently but briefly during the last session, and appeared determined to make himself known in the House without any loss of time. He may become an effective speaker, but the task will be a difficult one to accomplish, for Mr. Stewart has a peculiar mannerism that is not pleasing. He, too, must be written down as a second-class man, though, as he possesses an aptitude for acquiring political knowledge that will, if carefully cultivated, stand him in good stead, he may eventually occupy a more prominent position.. He is a clever lawyer, and on this ground alone his presence in the House is likely to prove welcome, for the House has of late been sadly deficient in legal talent. Mr. Vincent Pyke was one of the old war horses of the two previous Parlialiaments. No one knew better than he did when a great battle was to be fought, and no one could better predict the result of the struggle. On going up to the Assembly each year, Mr. Pyke quietly erected a small picket fence for himself, and getting astride has gazed complacently upon the contending parties on both sides, caring far less for either of them than for himself. Thus it is that on almost every motion for turning out a Ministry he has been found voting on the winning side. However, as Mr. Pyke served his political apprenticeship in the Parliament of Victoria and as a Minister in that Colony, this oscillating from side to side—this display of independence, as he styles it—may be the result of his training in years gone by, for they do very extraordinary things in the Victorian Parliament. Mr. Pyke was undoubtedly one of the most persistent, if not most consistent, members in the late House. He never yet took a matter in hand that he did not by some means manage to carry through successfully. He has a

happy knack of managing matters. If one side does not seem inclined to help him, he immediately forms an active alliance with the other party, the result being that he gains his object. Mr. Pyke was without doubt one of the raciest and most mirth-pro-voking speakers in the House, and probably few members have originated more bon mots, both in the Senate Chamber and in the lobbies than has the jovial, goodnatured Chairman of the Vincent County Council and member for Dunstan. Mr. Pyke can occasionally make a good sound practical speech, but he is not, like seme members, fond of hearing his own voice in the House, and knows the value of a judicious silence. Although he voted against the Government on the late want of confidence motion, it by 110 means follows that he will next session be found amongst the Opposition. At best he can only be classed as doubtful—independent he "would style it. From what he said lately when addressing a meeting of his constituents, it would seetn that there is a prospect of the House losing ere long its most witty member, for he announced that he had been offered a seat in the Upper House, but had declined to accept it until the Clyde railway had been completed. How some of his smart sayings would horrify the severely proper and highly decorous "Lords" !