THE MEMBER FOR COLLINGWOOD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1286, 12 September 1872, Page 2

THE MEMBER FOR COLLINGWOOD.

[WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT, AUG. 29. In speaking of Mr Vogel's visit to Melbourne, wherein he did great service to the. Colony and not a little to Wellington by the successful floating of the loan, Mr Collins flaunted the hard-working colonist in the face of the House, and made him the, slalking-horse from behind which ha could shoot his arrows. He "wonders where the money comes from," and he proceeds thus : "The colonists say to . themselves, 'these men are our servants, to whom we pay LIOOO a year to do our work, and if they come out in this sort of way where do they : get the means to do it from f They know that LIOOO a year will not maintain this magnificent and regal grandeur. ' If I were to have an opportunity of putting my hand into the publio purse, and if I were thereupon to come

out in grand array, with carriages and horses, and all the magnificence of a semiregal display, I know well enough. I should make myself quite ridicnlouß, and w no degree is it less ridiculoua in the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer; 1 I feel, and have often felt, that although we like to see rich people conduct themselves with some outward show, and enjoy the attributes of riches, we do not like toaee those whom we pay to do bur work disporting themselves in the manner I have desoribod, for we know it cannot be paid for out of LIOOO a year." Now the evident meaning to be gathered from this is, that opportunity exists for putting the hand into the public pvirse, and the inference is that an unjust and ungentlemanly accusation is preferred against the Colonial Treasurer, Mr Collins next day explained that he did not mean anything of the kind; and he adroitly sought to shelter himself under the artful language which he employed. Yesterday in the course of the debate one member referred to this explanation, and termed it an apology, in which sense it was clearly understood by the House; and then up rose Mr Collins and denied that he made any apology at all. Mr Yogel referred to the matter last night, and touching on the coarse allusion that the style of living cannot be paid out of LIOOO a year, deprecated assaults on Ministers and their private life ; and, amidaf frank cheers, he said that the House ought to support Ministers, not merely the present Government, but any Government as representing the will of the House, and to defend it from any nnjust accusations of the kind implied. He also felt it necessary to explain that if he had not possessed private means, the LIOOO a-year received as Minister would not permit of anything but a very moderate style of living. But by ill{'udged and as unjust statements of the ;ind referred to, Mr Collins may rejoice in compelling a gentleman and a Minister, whose hospitality is proverbial, to explain that that hospitality is supplemented by the possession of private means ; but if Mr Collins is gratified by such a proceeding, his opinion is not shared in. If his own idea of good taste does not prevent him from following this practice, perhaps some of " his party," to which he is so fond of referring, will see it their duty to school this erratic youngster, and if they cannot teach him modesty, they may at least for their own credit teach him fair play.