COLONISTS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1074, 10 March 1880, Page 3

COLONISTS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

One feature in the approaching Parliamentary struggle will be the candidature of several prominent and representative men from the Colonies. Thus Mr Brown is about to contest Chelsea at a great probable outlay, and but little probability of success; Mr Barr Smith, of the great firm of Smith, and Co., will, it is said, stand for one of the Scotch cohstitUen* cies, while Sir Julias Vogel as is already well known, intends to offer himself to the electors of Falmouth. If these and other gentlemen are returned it will be the commencement of a new era in the British Parliament, as a first step towards giving it a more essentially Imperial character, and materially advancing the consolidation of the empire. The election of . Sir Julius Vogel may also receive the question of the disabilities under Which certain Crown servants labour as regards a Seat in the House. The recent well-known case of Sir Bryan O’Loghlen may possibly be quoted against Sir Julius Vogel. But it muit be remembered that the former accepted office after' his return to Parliament here, while • the latter seeks election while actually holding the appointment of Agent-Gene-ral. It has alone been conceded, al though not in so many words, that AgentsGeneral ought not to he included among the officials to whom the statue to Queen Anne is supposed to applyv Humor, indeed, has it that they : would be expressly exempted were it not that such a measure would benefit one who is already in the Hpnse, and not in the very highest favor with the leaders of the Conservative party. The author of “ Gink’s Baby ” has the credit of bpipg one of the few men in the world who can ruffle our impassive and sphinx-like Premier, and nothing would be done for a class which numbers Mr Jenkins among its ranks. Be this as it may, it would be a thousand pities if the rule were made, penal in Sir Julius Vogel’s case. It is to be hoped that the alternative between sitting in the House or resigning his Agent-General-ship will never be put to him, as in one case this country, and in the other New Zealand, would lose.—Home News, Jan. 16. For remainder of news see last page.