THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1907. THE POLITICIANS WE WANT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8878, 12 November 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1907. THE POLITICIANS WE WANT.

Speaking, at the anniversary dinner of the Wellington Shipwrights Association,, on Friday,last, Mr J. Hutcheson, ex-member of Parliament, and one of the most conspicuously honest politicians of his day, > is reported to have "made a strong appeal to those present to help in sending men to Parliament whose pastihistory could not be cavilled at, and whose conduct and ability entitled them to the respect of their fellow men." This is a text upon which a long discourse might bfe founded. A short one will do. No one can freely say that our Parliament is over-largely composed of the stamp of men Mr Hutcheson, and, with him, all the thinking section of the dominion, desire. Attempts have beeri made—by members of the present House of Representatives —to lead the dominionists (horrid word—how much pleasanter "colonists" reads) —to suppose that that body is superior to any previous collection of New Zealar.d politicians. But those who know the character of pre-Seddonian Parliaments and the methods by which a large percentage of members have been returned during the past decade, .smile or become angry, according to temperament, at the assumption. Have we to-day a Parliament, the history of whose members cannot be cavilled at, and whose conduct and ability entitle them to respect—in a political sense? No. There /are a few who might pass muster as tolerable political entities; some who may be classed as "respectable mediocrities" —in a political sense; and more who

have neither legislative ability nor the dhadow of political steadfastness. These latter speak one way and vote another; they, as was said of Burke, "give up to party what was meant for mankind," blindly, following a Government whether it is right or wrong, because it is the stronger side and is able to pay for support in public works and other things which help to retain ministerial supporters in their seats. They have" not the courage to say "This is right" or "That is wrong," and we will vote according to our convictions despite of personal consequences; or, ' if they have the courage to say so, they discount their courage by their acts, "'hey dread a dissolution, as Satan is said to dread holy water, and are brought to heel by the Ministerial whippers-in by the merest hint of anything so distasteful to them. What we want in Parliament is men who will be men in politics as out of politics; men of capacity and high commercial and moral protity; men whose chief ambition in entering political life is to advance the welfare of the £>tate; men who, while honestly striving to serve their , constituencies, will yet set the public weal before purely local interests, and who, being conscious of having done their duty, will face their constituents boldly, and as boldly accept their condemnation, if condemnation be the result of patriotism. ; These are the sort of men we want to see in the councils of the State, and it is men. possessing the qualities indicated whom the people of this dominion will sooner or later insist upon having as their leaders, rejecting all who fail to pas 3 the- requisite test. When that t.iine comes New Zealand will be a nearer approximation to "God's Own Country''' thasn it is to-day.