OUR MEMBER.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 24 July 1894, Page 2

OUR MEMBER.

The latest accounts from Wellington report that Mr McGuire has seceded from the Liberal party, and joined the ranks of the Opposition. To elo him justice, we must say that even when the whole power of the Ministry was being exercised for the purpose of securing his victory over Mr Bruce, he persistently iterated the statement that he was not -bound by any party ties, and that he was an independent member. Some of our readers may not have a very clear idea as to what an independent member means. There are two kinds: The first is the clever man, the able statesmau possessed of great foresight, who aims at legislation for posterity, who seeks no adulation from his contemporaries, but is content to have bis name writ in history for future generations to applaud. The second is the man who likes to run with the hare and chase with the hounds. As long as party Government exists in the conduct of our State affairs, there is no room for independent members. They are merely political ileas, filling themselves from those who for the time beiug have the most political blood for disposal. Party Government necessarily implies two different lines of policy. To carry out either of these, special laws are necessary, and to give a fair trial to these requires time. Therefore it is esentially necessary that when a Government under the present system obtains the reins, it should be able to devote its, whole energies to give afill, to do'so, should have a reliable aud loyal majority. No Govornmeut is likely to bring forward measures which will suit every individual member of the party, but if a majority of their measures are iu accordance with the views of their supporters, then we consider they are in duty bound to support the Government in all policy measures without questioning, leaving it for the people when appeajecl to to decide whether or not their policy is agreeable to them. As soon as a member objects to this, and elects to vote whichever way he thinks fit on every Government question, so that at 8 p.m. he votes to keep the Government in, at 9 p.m. he votes to throw them out, and at 10 p.m. he votes once more to keep them in, he at once loses his entity, and becomes neither]} fish nor fowl, nor even good red herring; and as far as his district is concerned, it might as well be unrepresented. His vote being iudependent, is unreliable to either parly, and unless both parties choose to retire and allow him to run the show, he would be more profitably employed at home at his usual occupation.