The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2718, 2 November 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1871.

Notwithstanding the strength of the Government, business in Parliament does not progress very rapidly. The Opposition contrives to throw impediments in the way of legislation by moving amendments that they know will not be carried, or by talking against time, or like Mr Mebvyn, by what may be called Parliamentary insubordination. We should think Mr Stafford and Mr Gillies must be ashamed of the company into Avhich they have been thrown, all of whom, without doubt, as rewards for their faithful and unreasoning toadyism, expect to hold office in the distant future when those gentlemen sit in places of honor on the Executive benches. It is to be regretted that several of the Otago members have rendered themself es conspicuous for want of ability. There is a certain kind of wisdom which consists in having ascertained the limits of knowledge possessed. Persons gifted with this perception of their intellectual boundaries seldom commit them-

selves. The old adage is “a close “ tongue makes a wise head.” For our own parts we should feel inclined to transpose it, and read rather that a “ wise head makes a close tongue.” It is in fact a sign of a shallow brain when men like Mr Shepherd essay to enlighten wiser persons on every conceivable subject, or when men like Mr Mervyn use their Parliamentary privileges for no other purpose than either to gain a reputation for talent to which they have no claim, or to prolong s session for the sake of living in a style they have not been accustomed to, upor

the honorarium. We do not know that even the present Parliament of New Zealand is worse than that of any other Colonial Legislature. It is an inevitable condition of representative institutions that they open the dooi’, not only for display of the highest talent, but for that of the most consummate ignorance and self-conceit. But we had rather the embodiments of these attributes had been sent from any other Province than Otago ; and it is to he regretted that the propor-

tion we have contributed is in excess of the average supplied by the remaining Provinces in the Colony. Our reputation suffers in consequence. Otago has long been celebrated for its “ free “ fights ” in the House of Representatives. For these there is the reason that the contests carried on in the Provincial Council arc renewed in the House, and sometimes with the advantage of the subject being ultimately referred to the arbitration of uninterested members. If then only the arguments on both sides are presented, there is a possibility of a measure being shorn of objectionable features, or improied or finally rejected through having to undergo the ordeal. But these free fights on such questions as the land or the goldfields should not be made the occasion of annoying obstructiveness such as Mi Mervyn has converted one of them into. It is too late now to remedy the error of electing such men, but it is not beyond the power of the constituences to express their conviction that they have unworthily represented them. Writing on “ Political Representation,” Dr Hearn says?

The selection, too, of a few persons to act upon behalf of many others never fails, even in circumstance. 1 ) of great excitement, to produce a sobering effect. The Lcpre-scn-tative feels, too, that a reason will be inquired for whatever coarse he adopts, and that he must give his reason, subject to criticism. Both in their acts and in their forbearance, therefore, a representative assembly is more careful than a larger and less responsible body would be. Nor is it the least merit of representation that the representative is generally above the average of his constituents. Prom the very nature of the case he is selected on account of some superior aptitude, real or supposed. Thus, although the representative reflects, and ought to reflect, the character of the electors, he reflects that character in its more favorable and not in the least favorable aspects. If this be true—if Messrs Mekvyk, Shepherd, it id genus omne, reflect the intelligence and opinions of Otago in their most favorable aspects —we arc afraid that it will soon become as stinging a reproach to be pointed out as a denizen of this Province as it was in the days of Herod to be called a Galilean. It is not merely a local but a Provincial misfortune, that these men have been sent to express our political views. AVe do not suppose that any amount of pressure would induce them to resign, but we hope that “ a reason “ will be required ” for the course they have adopted, and that an unmist,deeable intimation of their unfitness to represent any constituency will be given on their return.