The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 206, 22 August 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1876.

"Mr. Hodgkinson would not vote for the Bill, and, if read the second time, would not assist in improving it in Committee." Such was the telegraphic summary which reached us on Saturday of the speech delivered by the hon member for Eiverton on the motion that the Counties Bill be read a second time, and SirGr. Grey's amendment thereon. "We should be sorry to think that this Mr Hodgkinson could advance any claims to be regarded as a representative of any particular class of those who are now assembled in "Wellington to legislate for the good of the colony, but we fear that there are reasons for believing that he is not a solitary member of a certain party who have made up their minds that, if they cannofc have everything their own way in matters political, they would rather see the country ruined than render willing assistance towards working out its destinies in some other form than that which presents itself to their narrow minds as being the only one which secures their entire approval. It is a serious matter— more serious than may at the first glance appear to the casual observer— this ultimatum of Mr Hodgkinson'B. For anything we know to the contrary he may in his own proper person be regarded, and rightly so, as a mere nobody, but we, to whom he is an utter stranger can only view him in the light of one of the representatives of the colony— a man sent to the Assembly to assist in its deliberations, and to do his utmost to advance the welfare of the country, one section of which has entrusted its' interests into his hands. It may, then, be well to look back a few months with a view to ascertaining the status of affairs at the time of his election. After a hard fought battle the House had decided by a large majority that the time had arrived when the abolition of the Provincial system was not only desirable, but absolutely necessary. To suit the wishes of a minority of the people's representatives, the date when "abolition" should come into force was delayed until after the present session, the first of a new Parliament. A general election took place, and the country decided most unmistakably in favor of doing away with the Provinces, the understanding being, as a matter of course, that some new system of local government should be substituted for that which was to be abolished. One would have thought that those who were elected upon such an understanding would, in their own interests aud those of their constituents, have been not only willing but eager to do all in their power to render assistance iv putting together the framework of the new Constitution. They might in a general way have objected to the propositions of the Government, but surely it was not too much to expect that if the House affirmed the principles of the new measures they would do all they could to make the details such as would be acceptable, or as nearly acceptable aa possible, to the people b 7 whom they had been elected — shall we say elevated? — to go important a position at so important a crisis. But no. Mr Hodgkinson — let us hope there are very few in the House like him — takes upon himself to enact the part of the sulky schoolboy whose worldly experience has yet to be gained, who, standing aloof from his fellows in the shadow of his own selfishness announces that unless they bend themselve3 to his will they can no longer calculate on his co-operation iv their sports. Such an idiotic youngster speedily becomes aware of the. mistake he has made. His contemporaries solemnly constitute

themselves his medical advisers .pro tern, and strongly and forcibly prescribe a change of air, that of" Coven-' i r ? ? ;J^ing usually,recQnimended. He. is immediately despatched thither nolens volens, and after spending a few weeks in its solitary shades he, when permitted to do so, returns to his companions certainly a wiser, and frequently a much better boy.. .To * suggest a similar course of treatment for an M.H.R. might possibly lay us open to a charge of breach, of privilege,, but we would take the opportunity of impressing upon the constituencies of New Zealand that if they will insist upon returning gentlemen of the Hodgkinson type as their representatives in Parliament, they must expect to be governed juat a3 well as they deserve— and no better.