PARLIAMENTARY PORTRAITS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1058, 17 November 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY PORTRAITS.

ME FISHER—BY HIMSELF. Mr Fisher —As I have been referred to in a rather vulgar manner by one of the newspapers, I wish to make a few remarks with reference to myself. Some fifteen or sixteen years ago I was called by my fellow-settlers — men with whom I have worked as a man and practically assisted in making the colony —to take a seat on a Road Board, I was promoted by the same people, for they elected me as a member of the Provincial Council, and then they sent me to the General Assembly. Then I got a seat on the Government benches, and I may say that I am proud of the support I have received since I have been on these benches. Sir, I do not forget the power that placed me on these benches: that power was the people. Why should I hold Conservative views ? Does it follow that, because I come of an old naval family I should be conservative in my ideas ? Sir, I went to work for my living, and the “tin-pot” aristocracy amongst whom I lived turned their backs upon mo. It was the people with whom I worked that honored mo as I have been honored. The people do not want to be guided by stump oratory, and they will not be guided by any such thing. They do not want to be guided by men who think they have a vested interest in the government. I have the confidence of the people amongst whom I have lived for so many years, and I am proud of it, and I shall always endeavor to do my duty by them. I am sure they would rather have me, with my little experience, on these benches than a lot of schemers —men who scheme for their own ends, and not for the good of the country. ME MONTGOMERY —BY ME WHITAKER. Mr Whitaker —Thehon. gentleman (the Premier) referred to the hon, member for Akaroa, and told us that that hon. gentleman would not accept office for reasons highly honorable to himself, and not at all otherwise than honorable to the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government. But we have not heard the reasons why the hon. member for Akaroa did not go into the Government; we do not know what these very good and honorable reasons are. I have been thinking that possibly there might be one which would be highly honorable to the hon. gentleman. I think the hon. gentleman (Mr Montgomery) felt his inefficiency for such a position—that he was not a competent and fit man to be Colonial Treasurer. With that great modesty which so distinguishes him, he felt inefficiency, and declined the position ; and it was very honorable on the part of the hon. member for the Thames that he did not make the appointment when he found the hon, gentleman was so cognizant of his own deficiency. When I first sat and listened to the hon. member for Akaroa speaking on finance, I said to myself, “ Ah I shall hear something very good from that man.” From the solemn and didactic tone of his remarks, and the air of authority with which he spoke, I felt, “ That man must know a great deal more about finance than 1 can pretend to; I will learn from him.” The hon. gentleman made a long speech on finance, but, for the life of me, I could not understand him. I attributed it to my own want of comprehension, and I might have labored under that delusion up to the present time, but, as matters progressed, and I listened to the hon. gentleman again and again without understanding him, I found that no one else understood him any better than I did. I therefore came to the conclusion that it was owing not to my own stupidity, but to the

lion, gentleman’s want of lucidity. I once thought there wore the makings of a great Colonial Treasurer in him ; but, after having listened to him from time to time, what has been the result ? Why, that I have never heard him engage in the discussion of any great principles of finance —how things were to be put straight—what was to be done — what great scheme was to be devised for raising money, and for making our expenditure come within our income. I have never heard anything of that kind from him, but I have heard a great deal about the pettiest details ; and then I came to the conclusion—which I suppose he has come to himself—that finance is a mistake so far as he is concerned.