PARLIAMENTARY PERSONALITIES No. XII.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5481, 21 October 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY PERSONALITIES No. XII.

(By a Stranger is the Gallery.) It was often remarked at the beginning of the session tbafc the oratorical talentlay upon the Ministerial side of the house. Strictly speaking, most people would agree with this view, but circumstances called forth from the despised Opposition a latent reserve of scathing criticism such as is seldom equalled. A doubt rises in our mind at the moment whether, for fierce powers of attack, Mr. Rolleston or Mr. Ormond should bear the palm, and with some hesitation we decide in favor of the latter. It must be admitted that such critical power, like ft two-edged sword, is a dangerous weapon, and one for which tho owner will be welcomed rather as an ally than as a friend. The bold prediction of Mr. Ormond, that the beer duty and companies tax would not be carried, most have impressed many of his hearers with the truth of his belief, so positive was the assurance given, and so decided the conviction that evidently possessed the mind of tho speaker. The triumph was complete when, upon the withdrawal of those measures, Mr. Ormond twitted tho Colonial Treasurer with tho bold words be had used in reply, and demanded their fulfilment, besides pointing out how completely his prophecy had been verified. In ordinary debates Mr. Ormond does not take much part, and he will sometimes attend for days in his place without opening his mouth. Still waters, however, proverbially run deep, and, like the silent parrot, bo probably thinks the more. In a general way, a quiet gentlemanly address distinguishes his manner, but when stirred in debate, for bitter invective he can hardly be matched. Mr. Rollesten has proved another doughty champion in tho political contests of the session. His speech on the Land Tax Bill was generally hold to have exposed the many weak sides of the Premier’s conduct. The Premier's eloquent mixture of truth and falsehood referred to requires a very careful’ sifting to separate the grain from the chaff. Mr. Rolieston's long training in political life in Canterbury has qualified him to take up and thoroughly examine any proposal brought forward. It is true he still sighs for the good old days of the provinces when proceeds of land sales so swelled the Canterbury exchequer that roads in every direction were made without any apparent tax on those who enjoyed the use of them. Even the 20 per cent, of refunded land revenue keeps some of theßoad Boards rolling in riches. With the power of giving very careful attention to the subject under discussion, Mr. Rollestoa joins a happy knack of suggesting, in terse and clear language, any improvement that occurs to him. His speeches, os an oratorical display, suffer from a trick of hesitating at the commencement of a sentence. ‘ Kbi voice la only of medium quality, and the position he holds in the House is due to his mental and critical powers. Por clear thought, expressed in plain language, he is, as a Yorkshiremaa would say, “bad to beat.” As a sample, w© extract the concluding lines of the speech referred to, when ne says, in speaking of Sir George Grey,—“ldo not find fault with him at all for going about amongst the people, but I do find fault with him for, in defiance of truth, persisting in misleading the people with regard to the actions of their fellow-settlers.” Mr. Fitzroy is another staunch opponent of the present Government. By his own admission he came up prepared to support the Grey Ministry, but found himself unable to do so. Mr, Fitzroy waxes eloquent upon the subject of the details he asked for of the expenses of the Hinemoa. He begged for a return extending over a period of six months, and he was promised one to cover a number of years. But this last proves a serious undertaking, and the short return Mr. Fitzroy wanted has been long delayed in consequence. Without being a great orator, he often succeeds in summarising what he has to say under a few heads in a manner that leaves no doubt about the points on which he differs from his opponents, or about what course of action he will adopt.