MR. ANDREWS, M.H.R.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2306, 25 August 1881, Page 2

MR. ANDREWS, M.H.R.

That vivacious gentleman, Mr. Andrews, is popularly called the Working Man’s Representative. Wo say “ popularly called,” because in reality all members are working men’s representatives. Any man who had deeply offended the working classes would have very little chance in any election. Monied men in a colony are numerically few, and the freedom of opinion of the unmonied is guaranteed by the ballot. So that in point of fact Mr. Andrews’ sobriquet of the " The Working Man’s Representative is a mere nom-iJe-guerre. He might as well bo dubbed " The Irrepressible,” or " The Irrosoluble,” or indeed, like the red-skin heroes, “ The Crouching Panther,” or “ The Sitting Bull.” However, when Mr. Andrews dons his war-paint, he is known as “ The Working Man’s Representative.” There is, however, something in a name. It does absolutely tell on tho individuality of the man. It is probable that when on those rare oecassious when the " Sitting Bull ’’ is run to

earth by the United States troops, and he condescends to interview their officers, he assumes as much as possible the mien of the redoubtable animal he is supposed to resemble. As far as a biped can represent a quadruped, ho attempts to “do the character.” So Mr. Andrews when he opens out to his constituents, is influenced by the nickname he has acquired. Regardless of the fact that the party to which he belongs have never carried a single measure in favor of the masses, ho puts on what he considers the demeanor that a special representative of tho working man should be distinguished by. Judging by what happened on the 29 th of April last, when Mr. Andrews at the Academy of Music last addressed the electors, he must, however, often find the task a very hard one. On that occasion he was principally engaged in defending his own action with regard to the 10 per cent, reduction, and in demonstrating that the most important of colonial questions was tho Lunatic Asylum question. In tho House of Representatives Mr. Andrews also presumably acts up to the ideal he has placed before him, but it eau hardly ho said that ho has properly conceived the character. His rendering appears to be that a Working Man’s Representative should at all times act with all possible eccentricity. Whether in questions which relate to public policy, or to financial matters, or to what may be termed private affairs, wo find Mr. Andrews always endeavouring rather to startle than instruct. We will give a few out of numerous instances. Take public policy questions, and what do wo find our friend advocating ? In tho debate on the Representation Bill, he declares that what was wanted was additional representation for tho North Island. Having told his constituents in April that his special care should be to look to the interests of the centres of population, in August he conceives that tho thinly populated North Island is altogether overlooked by a Government that are actually amending the represention on a population basis. Then again on another public question, namely the duration of Parliaments, ho advocates annual Parliaments. Ho ignores the fact that no poor man, if annual Parliaments were established, could possibly hope to stand the expense. But what of that—he is merely going in for eccentricity. In financial matters ho is equally startling. Take one instance. When, during the consideration of the estimates, tho vote for the Colonial Secretary’s office is brought on, the vote proposed being for £1775, Mr. Andrews moved that it be cut down by £1195, thus leaving £SBO to work the office on! And, lastly, in private matters. A few days ago we read that Mr. Andrews had to apologize in tho House for a statement he had made. He had made certain accusations against the Visiting Justices of tho Dunedin Gaol. And on what grounds had he based his charges ? On representations from gentlemen in Dunedin, or from careful investigations taken by himself or anybody else ? Oh, dear no. “ They were made,” he said, on the authority of a Wanganui paper.” Really Mr. Andrews should reconsider his part. He may have his own views on the subject, but we can assure him that the working man is no fool, and is the last person in tho world to mistake eccentricity for talent.