PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 24, 17 June 1893, Page 563

PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

(BY

BIRDSEYE.)

PAINSTAKING, conscientious, and reasonable, the chosen of Picton-Waimea, Mr E. W. Mills, bids fair to develop into a most useful member of the Legislature. His Parliamentary experience has as yet only extended over two sessions, but already he has shown no little adaptability, and considerable aptitude. Brilliant, gifts he does not lay claim to, but he knows how to keep silence with open ears, is not above asking questions when be wants information, evinces an honest desire to get at facts, and a very decided repugnance to ‘red herrings’ and similar devices by which new or verdant members are often sought to be mystified. Mr Mills is blessed with a very fair allowance of that not too common quality—common sense, and though in other respects he may not tower conspicuously above his fellows, this quality, combined with considerable and varied ex-

perience of colonial life, should enable him not only to do good work himself, but should make him act as a useful check upon more reckless legislators. Mr Mills, though he looks younger, is close upon the half-century, having been born in 1844 at Nelson. He is therefore the oldest European New Zealander in the House. In his younger days he gained a practical knowledge of much of the rough work incidental to colonization. At sea and on land he was equally at home, and nothing came amiss to him from furling a sail to shearing a sheep. Gold ■ mining also engrossed his energies for a time, and for many years he has acted as ‘Miners’ Advocate’ in Warden’s Court.

In former days Mr Mills was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council, and since Provincial abolition has taken

his share of local administration, having been actively engaged on Road Boards, County Councils, Hospital, Education, and Charitable Aid Boards, not to mention minor bodies.

Mr Mills’ first attempt to enter the House of Representatives was made in 1887, when he stood against Messrs A. P. Seymour, and Harkness. He was beaten on that occasion by a small majority, but, nothing daunted, came up again cheerfully to contest the election of 1890. On this occasion he was opposed by Messrs R. Hursthouse and G. Pbillipps, both of whom he bad the satisfaction of leaving far behind, his majority being 212.

Since bis entrance into Parliament the member for PictonWaimea has been a consistent supporter of the present Government, whose measures generally have been in accord with his political views. Mr Mills has already done no little useful work on the * Petitions Committee,' where his capacity for patient investigation is well known, but in the House be is content with the modest position of one who has something still to learn. Should no election reverse occur a Parliamentary career of much usefulness should await him. Mrs Mills was born in Scotland, but came to the colony while quite a child. She is a bright, cheery little lady, who carries her years with the vivacity of girlhood. To look at her you would never imagine her to be the mother of eight children, half of them arrived at maturity ; but such is the fact. Mrs Mills takes a good deal of interest in politics, and is an ardent supporter of woman suffrage.