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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1266, 28 April 1880, Page 2

This issue contains the long-expected resignation of Mr. T. W. Hislop of his position as one of the representatives in Parliament for this district. Notwithstanding that it was generally considered that Mr, Hislop's withdrawal from politics was inevitable, now tbafc

the consummated fact has taken the place of vague rumor, there are universal expressions of regret. If Mr. Hislop should never - again actively engage in politics, he has performed his share of the self-sacrificing and harassing work of participating in the administration of the affairs of the Colony, and, although he has'done this for a period of five years, we are sure he has reluctantly abandoned his post. It would be of no avail to deplore the position in which Mr. Hislop's retirement has left ns. It is the duty—some think it also a privilege—of every colonist to prominently engage in the important task of governing his country, and we have reason to believe.that there are men in this district amongst whom one at least should be found capable of filling the breach left by Mr. Hislop's retirement. To .those who would be actuated by personal aggrandisement or anxiety to assist friends in coming, forward to take Mr. Hislop's place, we would say —and we think that the settlers would take Tip the refrain—- " Stand back. There are too many of your stamp already in Parliament." "We do not want a man whose chief characteristic would be his inordinate sympathy with some particular class—who would affix his sign manual to anything that that class desired to effect, whilst in matters intimately connected with the good Government of his district and the Colony he would be silent. Any man undertaking the responsibilities of a representative must be prepared to suffer more than the infliction of the title vpith the attendant addition of " M.H.R." to his name. He mijst be prepared to aGt as a detective, and, despite the opprobrium of bringing to justice political perpetrator's of acts injurious to the country, stand forth and with his whole energy and ability do his ' duty. There is something more in being a representative than going to Wellington, sitting in the Parliamentary Chamber for three or four months, taking the honorarium, and then returning home to the bosom of one's family. There is something more in it than saying "Amen" to the demands of any party. Let those who now contemplate entering upon the duties of a representative remember that the successful candidate will repose uppq. a bed of thorns if he attempts to repose upon the cushions of the Parliamentary Chamber —that he will regret the expenditure of his iQongy and his pain's if hegivessilentconsent to political immorality, or casts in his lot with its votaries. Rumor hath it that Mr. James Stewart Holmes, a son of the Hon. M. Holmes, and who has lately taken up his residence at Awamoa, Mr. John M'Lean, Mr. Duncan Sutherland, Mr. W. H. S, Jtoberts, and Mr. W. L. Bees, so well knpwn as a politician, of the Grey school, are likely to come forward. But nothing is yet definitely known as to their intentions. It would say little for the system of represents tive government if we should be compelled to look so far beyond our district for a representative as to invite Mr. Hees to accept the position. But we hope that the electors will not lose sight of the fact that they might do even worse than leave themselves entirely disfranchised by making a bad selection.