AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 6

AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER.

WILL VOTE FOR THE MINISTRY,

'A FORGIVING SPIRIT. Mr. T. W. RHODES (Thames) said that in. any event ho would bo largely an Independent. He voluntarily pledged himself on the platform to vote for thn Ward. Government. He was also pledged to support the freehold against anything else. He was one who had always tried to keep his pledges, whether publicly or privately made.. It would be his'aiin to make his word his bond. (Hear, hear.) He recognised that a man must almost inevitably ally himself sooner or later with one side or tho other, and he would probably do so himself when he was in a better position to judge of the merits and demerits of tho two parties. He. was already better able to judge of thoso matters than when he first camo into the House. (Ministerial hear, hears.) He stood for principles and measures, not for men, and would support gooil measures wherever they came from. He was sorry Micro had been so much mud-slinging since tho session began. Ho supposed this was incidental to tho party svstem, but he did not like it. If tho Opposition got into power, they would not he perfect. No ono was perfect. "To err is human, to forgive , divine." Let them learn to forgivo and do a divine action when thoy could. Ho had been disappointed in not hearing solid evidence brought forward that the Opposition, if they got into power, would do better than the present Government.

Praise for Mr. Payne. Ho admired tlto courage with which Jfr. Payne hud determined to bo guided by His own convictions. Ho believed that Mr. Payne had acted in an entirely conscientious manner, and had done what had seemed to him to be right. (Jlr. Payne: Hear, hear.) Referring to the Opposition, Mr. Rhodes said that tho only policy it had announced was with regard to (he land, and in that connection he admitted that the lioform party's platform appealed to him. 'But, after all, tho optional system, which was the policy of tho Government, was.tho fairest <f all. It seemed to him that the Opposition strovo 'to bo all things to nil men, while tho Government had a record of legislation on progressive lines. The Liberal party had fathered much beneficial legislation and ho could not admit that it was blameworthy for tho increased cost'of living which was the principal question exercising the public mind at present. That increase was, in his opinion, the inevitable result of the , general advance in wages. Mr. Ithodes i' devoted much attention to legislation enacted during the Liberal regime, demonstrating . the advantages conferred upon tie counter. \>2 puch. enactments, He to

glad of the signs of renewed activity in the opening up of tho lands, and he hoped his own district would lie allowed to participate, and ou improved conditions as to tenure, Labour had his sympathy- so lone; as their demands wero fair and reasonable, but ho would not agree to anything- that was unreasonable.