THE LOCAL MEMBERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2662, 1 October 1881, Page 2

THE LOCAL MEMBERS.

SECOND EDITION

“Verax,” in a series of political sketches in the “ Otago Daily Times ” thus writes of our local members of the House of Representatives: Richard Turnbull, is a full-sized fair-haired, genial-looking man, something over 50 years of age. When speaking, his face carries a smile of a rather perennial character, and his tongue goes on as smoothly, as readily, and as uninterruptedly as the well oiled crank of a steam-engine. He can talk to order, without a moment’s notice, for any time under six hours, and can talk either sense or nonsense,as may best suit his purpose. As a stonewaller he has no equal, though he has not been engaged in the late exhibition of that accomplishment. He is not a mere noisemaker, as some of the time-waster* in the House are, but can turn his words to any common purpose he pleases, and can break the spirit of every standing order in the House without coming under the letter of one of them, or even getting called to order, id® does not appear to talk to show himself off, nor to be very proud of his performances, which are never brilliant, but can be as quiet as anyone when not called on toobstruct for party purposes. Heprides himself upon saying very rough things in a very pleasant manner. He has courage, temper, and ability, and with higher aims and a better lead might make a very useful member. Edward Wakefield, the member for Geraldine, and Chairman of the Native Industries Committee, is an average sized man about 40 years of age, with good features, and a face of much intelligence, rendered less attractive by a general expression of something like scorn. He hat a great command of first-rate language, and is one of the very few speakers in the House whose speeches might be recorded exactly as spoken, and are not improved by the “Hansard” reporters. His voice is good, clear, and sufficiently loud, and his English faultless. His manner is not equal to his language, but it is not bad, and suits his style and object well enough. Although a writer by profession, he does not appear even to aim at accuracy of statement in his speeches, but seeks only effect. He shows no evidence of patient research or power of able analysation, and he deals little in facts or figures. His speeches are clever, slashing speeches, capable of dispersing and destroying, not of building up, of healing, or restoring. They are often pergonal, bitter and unjust. They rarely do his pary any good, and often do it a great deal of harm. He has too much of the " hare” and too little of the “ tortoise” about him. He is no quiet daily helper of his party, but expects to be used only on great occasions, to be fore-horse or no horse at all. He is too touchy and uncertain in his temper to be manageable by his friends, whilst his enemies can easily provoke him to commit himself to damaging retaliations. It is usual to say of him that he inherits Reuben’s “blessing” “ Unstable as water, thou shall not excelbut it would be more correct to place him under Esau’s —“His hand against every man, and every man’s hand against him.” His reputation for instability results from a want of patience rather than from any change of purpose. Believing himself too good to serve in the ranks, he aims to rise by no routine service or steady advocacy of principles, but expects to leap into a position in which be would find himself without friends, and therefore without the first requisite of a Parliamentary leader.