THE HIGH CALLING. Candidates Pressing Forward to Its Adornment.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 120, 18 October 1902, Page 8

THE HIGH CALLING. Candidates Pressing Forward to Its Adornment.

THIS is the season of the year when the candidate for p >litical honours beams recognition on people whom he hitherto "cut," and buys " lollies " for children whose existence he was hitherto unaware of It is the season, too, when men with the superb self-confidence for which the denizens of these happy isles are noted take time by the forelock, and h&\e the courage to face electors, who ever have and ever will suggest that they have an unparalleled effrontery to imagine that they have the ghost of a chance of representing the people. One admits the courage of the man without education, without a single talent equipping him for the onerous duties of a Parliamentarian, who steps forth and asks the person who is without prejudice to throw the first ripe egg. The confidence such a one has in himself is good for the country, and optimists are cheap at £300 a year —and railway passes. » * * But while a great many persons who desire to take up £300 worth of duty for their country would be far more useful if they didn't, it is remarkable that the lists of candidates for Parliamentary honours have amongst them men of light, learning, and experience who are willing to sacrifice, to some extent, lucrative positions to guide their country in the narrow path. We notice that while the persons who are to fa\our us with their " platforms " are of all classes—from "mechanic" to "gentleman " — the legislative body may possibly be augmented by several gentlemen who have the distinction of belonging to the " Devil's Own." It is ever a mystery to the mere tyro how it comes about that there is frequently a very large sprinkling of lawyers in a colonial legislative body. • •* * Considering that to most of the lawyers in our own House of Representatives the £300 honorarium is a bagatelle unworthy of a passing thought, it follows that this class of legislator has no end to serve but to benefit his country, and to see that it has a nice lot of laws, designed to protect the intending litigant, and to simplify procedure. As long as there is a fair sprinkling of the D.O. in the House, New Zealand can never be accused of having an ignorant Legislature ; therefore, in the interest of advancement, the people are in duty bound to return every lawyer who wants a seat. • • If we "pooled" the figures which are being scattered around broadcast by intending Parliamentarians, it would be found, providing we returned

them, that there would be in the Treasury a surplus tor the next 500 years. It is intensely interesting to hear several newspaper columns full of figures, published long since, hurled through the air, and a few "noughts" here and fcheie don't; matter m the heated atmosphere of an electoral meeting. It is also just as interesting to hear a man read a dozen or more long extracts from somebody else's speeches, as it might convince you that he can do better if he tries. P etry may be quoted at odd intervals. The electors probably have not got tickets for the public libraries. » • • You've noticed, of course, that old political war-horses let the tyros do all the preliminary " cpouting," with the evident intention of swooping into the field when the last egg has hurtled towards its destined waistcoat. New candidates, who don't know the A.B.C. of campaigning, should not be so anxious to get on the platform. They should let the old stagers lead the way, sit light, and take note?. Even we in Wellington have watched the uprising of at least two promising young politicians who at the first breath of tempest have hauled down their colours. They should have fought it out. It costs some men 95., or thereabouts, to win a seat. That's a reasonable outlay for a return of £300, isn't it?