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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5707, 15 July 1879, Page 2

Mr. Thomson is fortunate. When it was found that his chance of securing the Chairmanship of Committees was very small, he was offered and has accepted a portfolio, and will be henceforth known as the Minister of Lands. Hitherto he has borne the reputation of being one of the greatest bores of the House, who was not only remarkable for the generally mixed nature of his ideas, but was also a marked man because of a most objectionable Scotch accent, which lent additional obscurity to his meaning. His chief effort during the last session was his speech on the land tax, and it affords an excellent example of his style. Anecdotes of circus-men and touching references to the hard life of colonial farmers, whose young wives were supposed to grow prematurely old by excessively hard work, are mixed up in the speech with long arrays of figures, which are brought forward and let drop apparently without rhyme or reason. The most noticeable feature of the speech was that Mr. Thomson thought the land tax would bring in far more than £150,000, and gave very full reasons for his belief, which has since been proved altogether illusory. In addition to this he proposed that the beer tax should be increased from 11? d. to Bd, per gallon, but weakened his argument most absurdly by remarking that he never drank any beer himself. Finally, after critisising the proposals severely, after disapproving of a land tax, and confessing that he did not “ pretend to understand “the matter” (i.e. the companies’ income tax), he declared that ho would vote for the second reading of the Bills, Every one who had listened to his speech, but who was ignorant of his character, ex, pected him to have said that ho would vote against the Bills ; but those who knew the man, understood that he was privileged to speak as he chose, so long as he voted the right way. This he did at all times and seasons, and now he has met with his reward. We, look upon his appointment as a further proof of the extreme weakness of the Government. If Mr. Thomson follows Mr. Gisborne in debate “coffee-housing” at Bellamy’s will be carried on to excess.

The battle between Messrs. Bryce and Sbymphe for the Chairmanship of Committees will take place to-day. We do not look on Mr, Bryoe as a bona fide Government candidate. His speech at AVanganui was dead against the Government, and it will only be his love of fair play and high character for impartiality, and not tho party support, which will secure him the appointment, if ho succeeds in obtaining it. We have never disguised our own opinion of Mr. Bryce’s fitness for the post, and shall be prepared to hail his accession to the office with satisfaction. One argument has been brought forward which may be of force against his claim. It is said that, Mr. Bryce would scarcely be fitted to undertake the Speaker’s duties. The Chairmanship of Committees is looked upon as a stepping-stone to the Speaker’s chair, and any appointment to the former should be made with this fact in view. It-is a somewhat sentimental objection perhaps, but it may be enough to give Mr. Seymour a strong support from quarters whence he could hardly expect it otherwise, and we believe that the contest will be a very close one. . Sir Wm. Fox has consented to come forward if a clear majority of the Opposition, who have organised their forces, should elect him as their leader. A large section of tho party were in favor of the Honi J. Hall, but it is known that he is barely up to the work. Daring the whole of last session Sir W. Fox was distinguished for his extreme moderation, and it is gradually becoming evident that his bitterness as a politician is. growing less marked year by year. An able letter, entitled “Now and Then,” which appeared in our columns a week or two ago showed plainly that latterly Sir William Fox had earned the rare reputation of being a temperate Temperance Reformer. It has been unkindly suggested that a long-continued course of cold water would cool the . temper of the most ardent reformer. If it should appear that time has mellowed the character of Sir AVilliam Fox as a politician, his perfect fitness for the post cannot be disputed. It is not expected that the Opposition will bring forward any programme or attempt to attack the policy of the Ministry. The administration of the Government is known to be utterly rotten, and a vote of want of confidence can be tabled by the Constitutional party without any opinion being expressed 'by tbem as to the fitness of the measures which will be introduced in the Governor’s Speech to-day.