MR WAKEFIELD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3161, 16 August 1881, Page 4

MR WAKEFIELD.

" Tgnotus " in the New Zealand Times has the following upon the member for Geraldine :—His first experiences of politics were gained at the feet of Sir Edward Stafford, whose' private secretary he was, and from his position as secretary to the Cabinet. Here his manipulation of Cabinet confidences are said to havo first shown his aptitude for newspaper work. Immediately before the retirement from office of his patrons, on the carrying of a want of confidence motion, he was appointed to a clerkship in the Custom House, in Auckland, where he kept warm his interest in the public service till Sir Edward Stafford's return to power, when he was reinstated in his secretaryship. On their next expulsion, the Ministry had not tho audacity, though, doubtless Mr Wakefield would _i*sve had enough for all, to replace him in the Custom House, so he became a journalist, and wW appointed sub-editor of the Timaru Herald. Soon after, he was returned to the House for Geraldine, for which district he has since he&T a. precarious seat, coming in once by the casting vote of the returning officer. Of Mr Wakefield's character, it may be said that Tie- bears the index of it on his face—insincerif.y and inslftHlilv are written on every line of otherwise pleasing features. In his new career he soon nr-hievpd success of a kind, making a repnfnfi.>n hv his writing, and his eloquence. A ready f.nneue and a readier pen quickly brought Mm info notice, but his reputation has run before his merits, and disappointment i« often felt in likening to his speeches. Tt may he that nil his success is already n( .i.* P v.»d, nnd that the epitaph written on his broken column will be capax toqwendi nisi loentus exet Ifc is to be regretted that one who has such an undoubtedly ready tongine should lack the education that would have made him an orator, and the earnestness that would havP gained him confidence as a politician ; for flippancy can not make amends for a deficiency in good taste, nor superficiality for want of thought and training. Ifc will still be remembered in Wellington how these latter qualities, ably displayed in a spepch on the unemployed, earned for him the hatred of those who were thrown out of work by the depression in trade, whom he cruelly stigmatised as the " Wellington loafers." Tt would probably bo unfair to blame him for his egotism and conceit, qualities which Anthony Trollope affirms are characteristic of the whole of his family ; but no excuse can redeem him from the charge of disrespect in the House to those who are as far his superiors in years as in wisdom, while his want of education can alone be urged to account for his strange confusion of license in invective with liberty of debate. Lately, however, he has wisely concealed these defects by well-timed silence, the only path thafc can lead him to the goal he covets, and if he should eventually succeed in New Zealand politics, he will have to thank his silence more than hi*speech, and his unelp rather thnn his sincerity. Although TV'j- Wakefield does not admit it thf r<- i-i-n he doubt Mint. nil his speeches, his ic-Vo* his net-ions, and the- very tone he uses are nil carefully prepared ; but with all the pleas'' Tit ring of his musical voice, with his easy gestures, fluent speech, and ready command of words, he is of no weight in the House, and will ever lack influence. As an unscrupulous free-lance, as opponent, he will always be a thorn in the side of his enemies ; but to his friends he can never be of much assistance. Like a bar sinister on a scutcheon, the mark of unreliability has been placed upon the whole family in their political relations, which render, and will ever ronder, them objects of distrust.