THE NEW MEMBERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4797, 7 August 1876, Page 2

THE NEW MEMBERS.

SKETCHED BT ONE OP THEMSELVES. No. lll.—The Member for Waikaja. Mr. Bastings sits physically amongst his fellow-members from Otago, close to the chair of the Sergeant-at-Arms, yet politically he sits amongst those from whom on many points he differs very materially, as he stated when seconding the motion for the address in reply. In appearance and in speech he is the type of a very useful class of member. One who, having been accustomed to make his living by business in many and varied directions, and having a wide colonial experience, is a contented, jolly, business-looking man of the world. He is also a sample of the better class of local politicians, one who mixes and takes a lead in municipal affairs, not to gratify a mere ambition, but in order to conduct those affairs for the advantage of a district. And Mr. Bastings throughout his colonial career has always come to the front in municipal matters wherever he has been. He possesses that intense capability for voluntary organisation which is inherent in Englishmen, and which has led some writer to say, I think, that if five English citizens were cast foodless upon an iceberg their first proceeding would be to call a public meeting, place one of their number in the chair, and pass resolutions in view of " the situation." It is his practical acquaintance with local self-government that has made Mr. Bastings a consistent advocate of provincial abolition, a system which he has always contended ends in centralism of the worst form—the concentration of all interest and expenditure in and immediately around some provincial centre. And whilst he has been a member for many years of the Provincial Council of Otago, and.for some time of the Executive of that province, he has been consistent in the views above stated, and as a representative and a provincial Minister has always do je his best for the far-off and more outlying districts. Mr. Bastings came to the House after a good training in the requirements of public life. He has nlledthehighestofficein Victorian and Otago municipalities, and his career in the Provincial Council of the latter province has been honorable aud in a measure successful. He has been always on the side of a liberal land administration, and was a member of that party which, with Mr. J. L. Gillies at its head, caused the well-known provincial crisis in Otago in 1873, when the General Government granted Mr. Macandrew a dissolution. The opposition of the party to Mr. Macandrew was on the part of Mr. Bastings and others owing to a sincere though mistaken conviction that Mr. Macandrew was playing into the hands of the squatter ; but the opposition of its leaders was undoubtedly due to their personal advocacy of Mr. Donald Reid aB ' against the Superintendent. Indeed* as Mr. Macandrew himself said at the nomination for Superintendent which followed the dissolution, the question at issue was whether there should be two kings in Otago. He had been returned as Superintendent, but the Provincial Council insisted on thrusting upon him as Provincial Secretary his opponent both in general and provincial politics,. Mr. Donald Reid ; and" when that gentleman took a portfolio in the short-lived ** Stafford-Gillies Ministry, Mr. Macandrew summarily dismissed him, alleging the impos'SSbility of his holding"two incompatible offices. When Mr. Bastings, after the provincial general elections, formed with Mr. George ■■ Turnbull an Executive friendly to the Superintendent, he was declared a traitor by Messrs. Reid, Stout, and Gillies, but in reality he did no more than those gentlemen have done since —accepted the situation and entered into a coalition, in order to give the province a government. And here it may be said that for the period of more than a year during which Mr. Bastings remained in office he gained the approbation of all for his assiduity in the discharge of his duties, and for the manner in which he personally conducted the business of his department. Indeed, he in this respect formed a pleasing contrast to the Provincial Treasurer, who could not spare time to look after his public duties. At the end of the financial year the public accounts could not be got to balance. Mr. Turnbull said on account of the inefficiency of the Treasury clerks ; other people said on account of the inefficiency of Mr. Turnbull. The Turnbull-Bastings Executive had previously resigned,, and, "in the interests of the province," Mr. Donald Reid had formed a new one, retaining Mr. Turnbull. Public opinion said unmistakeably that Mr. Turnbull was jealous of the departmental and administrative ability of ;Mr. Bastings. The latter gentleman had his revenge. By a vote of want of confidence, purposely worded so as not to intimate want of confidence in Mr. Reid, he turned out the Reid-Turnbull Executive; but being unable to get Mr. Reid to coalesce with him, had to form an Executive of a very indifferent kind, which speedily fell before Mr. Reid in opposition. Mr. Bastings, however, could not but see with satisfaction, even in defeat, that Mr. Reid on returning to office had to dowithout Mr. Turnbull. That gentleman stated that nothing would induce him to join an Executive again. As a matter ol fact, the Council would not have tolerated an Exeouti ve with him in it. Following the session of the Otago Provincial Council in which these events occurred came the Parliamentary session which saw the passing of the Abolition Bill, and the termination of Provincial Council sittings. - At the general election Mr. Bastings was returned as a supporter of abolition and separation, and as such seems now consistent. He will, it may be expected, vote' for Sir G eor S e Grey's resolutions, but on their being lo3t, will be found, without doubt, doiug his best to assist in framing the system of local selfgovernment which is to follow abolition. It is evident from the foregoing that Mr. Bastings is no novice in politics, and I fancy that a year or two in the House will place hi. % above more showy and may be more intellectual | men. He has plenty of common sense, and if,' as a speaker, his diction be not elegant, or his style oratorical, it is not prominently offensive to the ear of any, and is never so to the feelings of opponents. He has, too, excellent social qualities, and without entering into that domain of private life which these sketches endeavor carefully to avoid, it may be said that he is a'pleasant table companion and a genial gentleman at all times. f Men are but men,. Parliament is but a club, and clubbable qualities of the better sort will make their way against that conceited form of would-be intellectual quality which forgets that well rounded periods or exhibitions of how much one has read will not procure the friendship or the confidence of a man's fellow-men. I had omitted to mention that as a member of the Waste Lands Board of Otago Mr. Bastings has always opposed the sacrifice of the public estate, has been a consistent advocate for its settlement by the people, and successfully voted against a recent attempt to disposo of it wholesale, in order to replenish the provincial treasury.