BRAINS versus CASH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 283, 29 November 1877, Page 4

BRAINS versus CASH.

[From Hansard.'] Mr Whitaker— l want to know where is this governing, class, this landed aristocracy, this spurious aristocracy — where is it in this oountry ? Ido not know of any f but one class in this country. We are. all on an equality as far as I understand, and as far as I know. The hon. the Premier talks about a spurious aristocracy and its power. Is land going< to govern thia country ? No. What does govern the country now ? Why _ir, brains govern the eouatry. When I look around this House — I am very sorry to see that the hon the Native Minister is not in his place. I am very sorry to bear tbat be is unwell —but I ask when I look around thia House, do I see that land or wealth governs the country? Look at tbe hon,. the. Native Minister, look at the hon. member for Dunedin Qity (Mr Stout), look at myself, look at the hon member for the Thames (Sir G. Grey). If you could get a gentleman who owned half of the land in the colony, would he on that account exercise upon this House aod this Country as muoh influence as the hon. the Native Minister can ? Certainly not. Yet he is not a member of an aristocracy — be has no iand, but he has got brains. Brains will govern this country and not land. Look at the hon. member for Dunedin City (Mr Stout). I do not know so muoh about him as I do about the Native Minister, but I do know that he has not raised himself to hia present position by the possession of large tracts of land. Does he possess sheep in thousands or cattle in hundreds ? No j but he possesses brains. Of course he does; and brains will make their way. Land, wealth, houses, cattle, sheep, aristocracy cannot hold their own against brains here. The country is perfectly democratic. Look at myself. The people of this country have been pleased to place me in different positions from time to time. What had I to recommend me ? I had no aristrocratic patrons at different times to aid me, no lands to aid me, yet I bave held nearly every Ministerial office under the Government, simply because the people of this country have been pleased to suppose I had brains, Look at the hon. member for the Thames (Sir Gr. Grey). What bas put him forward io this House ? Has it been s graod aristocratic parentage, or has it been large accessions of property? No. The hon. gentleman has brains. He would rise in aoy oountry. When therefore I hear that hon. member talking about an aristocracy — a spurious aristocracy — governing this country, I think he is talking nonsense. Tbe people, not landed aristocrats, are governing and will govern this country. Look at the composition of this House. Do gentlemen obtain positions in this House because they possess land and money ? Io the hon. member for thp Thames Premier because he is wealthy? Does the hon. member for Dunedin City (Mr Larnaob) occupy the position of Treasurer because he has a large saw-mill aud thousands of acres of land ? Out upon such nonsense \ It is pure "bunkum" — very good perhaps to catch the ears of a mob. Does any member of this House take a promieeat position because he has money or land ? Not at all. Tbe sooner we drop that kind of talk the better it wili be; and the better will it be when we come to acknowledge that in New Zealand the road to fortune and position is open alike to all. Mr Swanson— The hon, member has said that brains would always rule and always succeed. I wish to God, sir, it was true. I ask every member of this House if he bas not knowo instances where brains, and brains of tbe very first class, have done their very best, and failed; instances where men oi brains could not get a chance, and therefore could not get bread; instances of men being driveu lo despair and .suicide because they could not find an op.eniog for their talent. Is thia no< true of every walk in life? If we b_d any guarantee that brains would succeed I would say that we were approaching the millennium. Ido not run down wealth. Every man should siruggle to advance himself in life, for the sake of his own independence, for the power of doing good, for the sake of his wife snd children, and to make the path ol Sits children smoother than his own. But as to the power of wealth, deny v as yau like, it tells iv every direction. It sends ships abroad, it builds churches, it establishes factories, and the only thing it cannot do is to command health and happiness, but even to these it will always do something, and at times everythiug. Ifc ie> all twaddle to despise its influence. Go out into tbe world and find a place where wealth has not an influence, it you cao. Let wealth put up its bar, and do you find any otber influence will prevail against it? Not at all. It is not the respectable Mr ABC that is considered; it is the tangible £s. d. Wealth has not beeu without its weight either in the elections cr in this House. But as to brains, we have one very favorable instance on the jMiniaterial benches. I knew Mr Sbeeban wheu he was in his mother's arms, and I am proud to see him where he is, and the share I had in bringing it about. I should be very glad to see many more sons of thu soil here. This House not will be what it should be until we see men here wbo do not talk about Scotland, England or Ireland as their home. Wo must have men here who will speak of this as their country,: „ Brains should have : «b equal chance with wealth. Where ;

the chances are equal, brains will succeed, but nowhere else. Given brains and opportunity, and wealth and opportunity, I ehouid certainly back; j the brains. We all know how great is < the competition and how large is the number of applications for situations in this colony. Do brains always succeed? Whyj everybody knows that it is invariably the man who has most friends who gets the situation. Did brains plan this very building? For Heaven's sake, let us look a. our public works. Did brains lay out our railways? Did brains run them? Have brains made the rules and regulations? Bah I If it were not so serious a matter it would be absolutely comic to state to this House that brains must succeed. lam one of those that believe that a man with "tbe gift o( the gab," a plausible address, and with good friends at his back, can get along fac better than a man with brains, especially if he happens to have a large quantity of what is called " cheek." ggsgg^ ■!. ;. v 1 j 11 a»m_j_m_) _jmw Tl «f.