The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1890. On Parliament

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 44, 27 September 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 1890. On Parliament

Our esteemed contemporary the Napier Telegraph, writing on the retirement of Mr J. D. Ormond, says it is the resuit of the deterioration of Parliament. " I could not do any good by staying there, and so I came away," he (Mr Orniond) said on Frieay night. What was the use of staying there when half-a-dozen men chose to block business? Mr Ormond expressed the opinion that the followers of the Atkinson Government would be elected to the new Parliament by a large majority, but if the constituencies return a score of low-minded chatterboxes, having the inetiuct of apes, and the lung-power of asses, the same disgusting scenes will be enacted again which have brought the House of Representatives into contempt. There is little hope of having a thoroughly respectable Parliament till its members are elected for five years, and till the larrikin element is eliminated from the electors by tims and education." This is severe, but perfectly true in every respect. But it must be remembered to the credit of the " larrikin electors " that it was men like Mr Ormond, and those other gentlemen who composed the v Continuous Ministry," or ''little family party," and who, by putting on the "airs and graces " of hereditary legislators, raised up a feeling of antagonism to themselves in the minds of the people which has resulted in the admitted '' deterioration," which all nghtthinkiog men deplore. These legislators, therefore, however good they were, have no one to blame Hut themselves for the present wretched condition of political affairs in the colony. Had they shown less anxiety to cling like limpits to the rock of office when they were in power, or evinced the slightest desire to assist their opponents when the latter were in office, to govern the country wisely, and manage its affair* discreetly, the sym- . pathy of the " larrikin element " would have been irith both parties, and in consequence there would have been created a strong bund of mutual respect which would have united the electors and their representatives for their mutual advantage. Although several of the late members have earned the contempt of their fellows as well as thousand of electors, yet we think no member of Parliament has the right to blame the electors for choosing any particular man as their representative. That is a matter whit h only concerns the constituency. The sole duty of a member of Parliament is to do his level best for the people at large. In this respect we think we can, without fear of contradiction, say that the electors, in our more immediate neighborhood, have been well represented by Messrs Maoarchur, Wiluon t and Bruce. The ability of Mr Macarthur, nnd his power to do good have been confessed by his strongest opponents. There is an opinion, in some quarters, that Mr Ormond has deserted his constituents at a time when his services are much nee led. We do not think Mr Ormond has retired from political life, but expect to see him " translated" to the Upper House at no distant date.