OUR LEGISLATORS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue II, 11 July 1896, Page 50

OUR LEGISLATORS

IN AND OUT OF PARLIAMENT.

I BY

RANGATIRA.

Wellington, July 2. THE first big fight of the Session began on Friday over the appointment of a joint committee, from

both sides of the House, to enquire into the affairs of the Banks—Colonial and New Zealand. Glancing back at the work of the present Parliament, the most prominent feature of its administration is that relating to the Bank. The House has voted large sums of money 'to save the Bank,* and now it rises and demands a full investigation. When it was known that the question of the Committee was to be discussed every member strove to be present, and expectation ran to the highest pitch. This was no time for truckling to any party in power, and each man spoke out plainly and forcibly. The fight over and victorv assured to the Premier, a fresh obstacle arose. The members of the Opposition appointed to sit on the Committee refused to serve, and for a moment things looked uncertain. Then the Hou. Richard, with ready decision, appointed a few more of his own party, with Mr George Hutchison from the other side to the vacancies, and so the matter rests.

On Wednesday the political life seemed dull and tame, and members took things easily, evincing scant interest in their ‘ Honourable friends’ ’ private Bills. Major Stewart brought forward his ' Elective Executive ’ Bill, and it was doomed to a fire of criticism and ridicule for the whole evening. The Major was neither dull nor superficial. He advanced his views with telling argument, and succeeded in awakening the members to active interest. The division resulted in even votes, and the Speaker, by exercising his right of recording a casting vote when the numbers are even, carried the Bill through its second reading. There is division in the camp. The independent party, of which I made cursory mention last week, has proved itself unstable, and is now used chiefly as a butt for general chaff. The trio of malcontents —Sir Robert Stout, Mr J. G. Smith, and Mr Earnshaw, and in front of them the ‘ Left Wing,’ self-called ‘ Advanced Radicals,’ but otherwise variously spoken of as ‘ Army of Generals,’ 'Disappointed Politicians,’* Noble Army of Undecided,’ or * Washhouse Party,’ are expected to coalesce, and like King David in the cave of Adullam, draw to them all those who are discontented or in trouble.

It was during an interval of inattention on my part on Wednesday evening that my eye roamed idly from seat to seat, scanning the person of each member present, and I became conscious of an unusual tinge of colour pervading the general costume of the House. ‘ An epidemic of red ties,’ I exclaimed, mentally, and was somewhat amused a few minutes after to find that my neighbour had apparently struck the same vein of thought. She suggested that it would be advisable for the opposing factions to assume distinctive colours, and make it compulsory for each member to wear them during Parliament. ‘ No sitting on the fence of indecision then, or leaning on the wall of hesitation. Each man must get down one side or another and don his captain's badge,’ she concluded, emphatically, and I heard a faint ‘ Hear, hear ’ from behind. I told her sadly that * colours ’ were not lawful, not even during the election, as they were some years ago, when enthusiastic ladies cut the air with long-coloured streamers from harness and whip as they drove to the polling booth for news of their candidate, and when the butcher, baker, and paper boy advertised their politics along with their wares by the ribbon knotted in their buttonhole, and rivalry was at its height. No. that source of excitement and bitterness is a thing of the past. I am told that at last election and during the preceding campaign the followers of Mr Bell were often recognised by the bluebell worn conspicuously about their dress, and they were envied for possessing a candidate with so fortunate a name, which rendered so delicate a compliment possible. I see that Mr Montgomery is still keen on his old game -caricaturing the rest of the House—and think he wight at least give the Gallery the benefit of his ready talent by favouring them occasionally with a view of his portrait studies, which must have grown to a rare and vast collection by this time. It would be amusing to draw some of the members, not as they appear to us, but as we sometimes hear them described. For instance, Mr Hogg talked the other night of certain members who ‘ walked about carrying their heads very high like whited sepulchres,’ and in answer to the general laugh, he added that if the hose were turned on there would be some chance of us seeing their true colour. * O where,’ sighed my neighbour, ' are Mr Hogg's final gs ?’ * He must have mislaid them in his youth,’ I answer promptly, * for they have never been heard of since he came here,’ and then we discussed the different use and misuse of the Queen's English as we hear it from our Gallery, and concluded with a reminder of Mr O. W. Holmes’ curt remark that

* the man iriM a Juiure has almost of necessity sense enough to see that any odious trick of speech or manners must be got rid of; and without applying it to anyone in particular, we felt somewhat despondent about the future careers of our present day legislators.