The Member for Rangitikei

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 84, 5 January 1893, Page 2

The Member for Rangitikei

It is refreshing to read, as one does now and then, a report of some political speech devoid of the usual representatives 'patter,' a word which, if vulgar, exactly expresses what we mean. Nine representatives out of ten, attempt to convince their constituents that they are most important men. They endeavor to impress on the yoter's mind that it is an exceeding lucky thing for the people they were around when the elections were on. They point to their labors for the district ; how much public money they obtained for it, and they succeed often in convincing a few that they are speaking the truth. And all the time these shoddy.nia.de members are trembling in their shoes for fear of a rejection. They hunt for popularity in a painfully persistent way, and would — indeed they do — crawl through any dirt to save their means of livelihood. Mr Bruce, who has been lately addressing his Rangitikei constituents, is not a man of this sort. He is straight, hard- working, and independant. Consequently the more he sees of parliamentary life the less he cares for it. It is to be regretted that he is not likely to offer his services to the country at the next election, for the country could easier spare a dozen of the ordinary political windbags than oue such representative as Mr Brnce. — Westport News.