PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 37, 10 September 1892, Page 899

PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

<BY BIRD'S-EYE.! ONE of the least obtrusive and most gentlemanly members of the present House of Representatives is the late Postmaster - General and Minister for Native Affairs—the Hon. E. Mitchelson, who occupies a seat at the left elbow of the Leader of the Opposition. Of all the members of the present Assembly I think Mr Mitchelson is least often on his feet ; and this certainly not because he lacks the power of correct expression, for, on the rare occasions when he does address the House, he expresses himself with clearness and precision. An orator he is not; indeed his delivery is somewhat monotonous, but

his matter is well arranged, his language carefully chosen, and his tone distinctly above the average. Personalities Mr Mitchelson religiously avoids, and, though a staunch party man well able to hold his own in debate, he never stoops, as so many do, to attribute unworthy motives to his opponents. Mr Mitchelson is rather above medium height, dark complexioned, with serious yet pleasant grey-blue eyes. Though he has been a member of the Assembly for eleven years, and several times a Minister of the Crown, be is only forty-six years old, having been born at Auckland on the 12th April, 1846. In early manhood he went north, and, settling in the Kaipara district, engaged in the timber trade, and for a series of years carried on extensive operations in timber and gum. He was first returned to the House of Representatives in the year 1881, for the

electorate of Marsden, and in 'B3 joined the Government of Sir Harry Atkinson, taking the portfolios of Works and Railways. His action in increasing the grain rates in the South, cost the Government the support of their Canterbury adherents, and the result was their vacation of the Ministerial benches. Mr Mitchelson, bow-

ever, defends his action, arguing that its justice is proved by the fact that subsequent administrations have left the rates pretty much as he fixed them. Mr Mitchelson was also a member of Sir Harry Atkinson s ten days’ ministry, after the defeat of Sir Robert Stout in 1884. In the general election of that year he was returned, unopposed, for Marsden, but in 1887, after the defeat of the Stout-\ ogel Government, be elected to assist Thomson to gain the Marsden seat, and stood himself for Ecen, winning the election by a large majority, as he did also the subsequent election in 1890. On the formation of the Atkinson Ministry in 1887. Mr Mitchelson again accepted office, taking first the portfolios of Public M orks and Marine, and subsequently the 1 ostmaster-Generalship and charge of Native Affairs, which he retained until Mr Ballance s advent to power in January, 1891. While a member of the late Ministry Mr Mitchelson occupied the Tinakori Road residence, and here he and Mrs Mitchelson entertained largely, Mrs Mitchelron s gentle unpretentious manners making her a general favourite. This session, unfortunately, she has been unable to visit Wellington, owing to the delicate health of her eldest daughter, who, having during the summer suffered from a more than ordinarily severe attack of the influenza, has, by her medical attendants, been ordered to the South Sea Islands, and, accompanied by her mother, is spending the winter at the Island of Ra.atonga. Although she herself has never taken an active part in politics, Mrs Mitchelson sees nothing unfeminine in their study. She shares her busband's opinion, that a sex disqualification is. of all others, the most arbitrary and unjust : therefore, like him, she approves of female franchise, and hopes to see further avenues opened to female talents, industry, and ambition.

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photo.. Wellington.

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photo.. Wellington.