The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 4 August 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1880.

Parliamentary life is full of enigmas. The sublime apathy with which—unless friendliness or antipathy is in the question—many of the political patriarchs regard the laudable efforts of the Opposition to effect retrenchment, is not the least wonderful of the features which strike the yet compai-atively pure political tyro. It is somewhat novel—it will be confessed—to see a representative whose locks have become bleached since he lirst entered the senate, haggling over a few pounds hardlv earned, whilst he allows a waste of thousands—a most wanton criminal waste—to pass without moving a muscle. This is one of the peculiarities of Parliamentary life. It is more honorable to be expedient than to be just or consistent. This is the creed of the hoary-headed Colonial Conservative, mouldy from want of political progressiveness, and decaying from unwillingness to accept- the antidote— Liberalism. There was a scene in the House the other night that would have gladdened the heart of a genius with well-developed descriptive faculties. Hie Estimates were under consideration. Hon. members, principally on the Opposition benches—nothing daunted by the scowls of Ministers, and the entreaties of the Minister in charge of the class under discussion, which were invariably expressed in the melting language, " I do hope that hon. gentlemen will not insist upon the ciu*tailment of this item " —ruthlessly canvassed every questionable vote. Every now and then objectors would simultaneously rise on the floor of the House by the dozen in their anxiety to insist upon the carrying out of the substantial retrenchment which Ministers had pledged themselves to effect. The unhealthy excresences gave them special concern. But where were the pliable Government supporters, whose side of the House was represented by red velvet cushions 1 They were in Bellamy's or the lobbies, seeking consolution, or indulging in the abandon of the perfect and undoubted security of their patriotic party. But there was one seat conspicuously occupied. Its occupant is a patriciau—the renowned hero of a thousand political battles the Knight of Bangitikei. Sir W, Fox. In this gentleman's district is a Resident Magistrate who luxuriates on the munificent salary of LSO per year for services rendered to the Native Department. Sir William Fox had hitherto slumbered. Eyen a salary of L7OO to the Clerk of the! House had not aroused him into a state of patriotic concern. He is evidently a believer in the maxim " Unto him who hath shall be given, but fropa him who hath not shall be taken away I even that which he hath." Bight! valiantly did the time-honored politician batter " away at tliis unfortunate R.M. But the assailed had friends in council, who had the temerity to differ from Sir "William's view of the case. The member for Hokitika—the voluble one, Ave mean—wasted not his opportunity, but placed before the House a plain statement of the duties of the official, the subject of the discussion. He was charged with ignorance of the official's district; but with a circumstantiality which confounded the accuser, he named every village therein and their distance from each other. He then sat down amidst cries of question, and it really seemed as though justice was to be robbed of her dues, when there arose from his seat an hon. member, who thus addressed himself to the Committee : " I trust, sir, that the hon. member for Bangitikei will not yield to clamour. The only attempt to assist in retrenchment the hon. gentleman has made this session—in fact liis maiden effort—should undoubtedly be encouraged, especially as the amount he desired to strike out is only a tiny one. The hop, gentleman might, with all the prestige of his reputation, have chosen to attack some greater item of more public importance, and surely his modesty should be recognised." This was uttered in a tone of delicious banter, but neitlic-r Sir William nor the Ministry, with the exception of the Hon. Mr. Bryce, who tmried his face in his hands, took in the sitiiation, and the Premier, amidst a suppressed titter throughout the House, solemnly defended the item. At this juncture the fact suddenly dawned upon the mind of Sir William, and he precipitantly, and with as much grace as possible under the circumstances, left the chamber and the vote to its fate. The magistrate will therefore remain in a position to eat butter with his bread, which Sir William would evidently disallow if he could, whilst some of his more fortunate brethren in the public service will still be in a position, thanks to a generous Parliament, to keep their cellars well-stocked,