A FISHOLDER.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1912, Page 3

A FISHOLDER.

Some interesting items from a debate in the House last February:— The Hon.' 'Mr Millar: What are you? Mr Fisher : I am % leaseholder. The Hon. Mr Millar : Exactly ; and what is the Opposition party? Mr Fisber : There is.a great difference. I have said on the public platform, and I say again, that has a leaseholder I would not accept a j)Qsition in a freehold Cabinet. That is more than the honourable gentleman is prepared to say .... ALy ideals were not the ideals of the party with which lam associated. I have never been able to work hand in baud Avith any party in the House. ... I propose to give all the reasonable support I can to the Labour party in the House. . ...... I hope I shall bo able to assist them, and I -hope they will be able to assist mo in bringing about some oil the reforms which wo desire .: . -;•. Sir, it:might have paid me to sell my vote and my constituents at the same time, but I have come bne.k pledged to A'ote against the present Administration, and I regard that pledge as sacred. Mr Hanan : His conduct leminds me of some lines quoted by his late father, whom tvo all held in high respect when a member of this House, These words were applied to a similar critic as to what the aononrable gentleman is known to be in this House : — Well, well, it's a mercy we've fellows to tell us The rights and the wrongs of these things anyhow, And that Providence sends us oracular fellows Who sit on the fence and slang those at the plough. For a man whose ideals were not Irs party's ideals, who would not join a freehold Cabinet, who had not a vote for sale, and who had a yearning sympathy with the aspirations of Labour Mr Fisher has done extremely well. The motor cars which swarmed over the Rimutaka from Wairarapatobelp Mr Fisher to get the vote of Labour to " bring about some of the reforms which we both desire " did their work to perfection. It is merely a coincidence, of course, that tlie big landholders (for whoai Mr Fisher and \» revered leader hold no briefs) supplied the petiol with which to propel so great a democrat to the heaven of Office. — N.Z, Times.