Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

THE LONGEVITY OF POLITICIANS

SOME STARTLING FIGURES. (By ffm. T. Jennings, M.P.) The passing away recently of four members of the Legislature of this Dominion raises some peculiar speculation as to the cause of the large number of deaths that have occurred within a very short space of time. The death roll is so startling, so tragic in many instances, that one cannot help thinking that the path of political glory leads to the grave, and Parliamentary life is a veritable memento mori. Throwing my mind | •back less than eighteen years, when 1 was called to the Legislative Council, and searching the roll of 'both branches of the Legislature at that time and comparing it with the membership roll of to-day, there is much to make one reflect. In 1803 there were seven Minis; ters-~live have gone to that bourne from ', whence no traveller returns, and the names of John Ballance, John McKenzie, Patrick Buckley, Alfred Cadman and Richard S'eddon are removed from earthhonor. In 1893, there were 42 members of the Legislative Council, and out of that number to-day there are only ten members living. Looking rapidly down the Council list, one misses the doyen oi the Council of those days, Dr. Pollen, of Auckland. He was simply perfect in his style, and it was a treat to witness him removing his pince-nez and gently swing them to and fro when he wished to elucidate a point. Patient and' charming John Wallis Barnicoat, of Nelson! if ever man deserved the term gentleman, he stood first for that title, which means so little in this strenuous age. Howwell I remember his story of the Wairau massacre and how he escaped, told on the Paekakarika beach, Wellington, one Saturday afternoon. He was quite a young man, engaged as a surveyor, and was present at the early stages of the discussion between Wakefield and Rauiparaha. Dr. Grace, great on his incidents of the Maori War, and also greater when he would disturb the equanimity of the more serious-minded Councillors by asking, when he rose to speak, "What is it all about!" They were rangitiras, every one of them, the old school of politicians that were in the Council of 1893, and included men of marked ability in every walk of life. Plucky little Whitmore, courteous old Major Ropata, with a New Zealand Cross medal on his heart; debonnaire Robert Pharazyn, who dearly loved to draw one of the "twelve apostles" out on socialistic subjet ts. Sturdy Willie Swanson, who could iiot understand die- new 'legislation, and when lie was not angry in discussing some of it, would say that "he had been born too soon," as all the 'benefits, (sic) ef the new legislation would come after •he was dead; and so on, could I but go down the list. Out of the "twelve apostles" that were appointed in 1892, three only remain in the Council to-day —Messrs Jenkinson, T. Kelly and J. Rioit*. Four have crossed the bar—Messrs W?C. Walker, Bolt, Feldwick and Kerr; three were not re-appointed—Messrs McGregor, McCullough, and Richardson; and°Messrs W. Jennings and W. Montgomery resigned their positions. Out of the forty-two Councillors in '893, there only remain eleven oil the roil today—Messrs W. D. Baillie, C. C. Bowen, E.'Jenkinson, C. Johnston, T. Kelly, H. J. Miller, G.' McLean, J. D. Ormond, J. Ri.oy, H. Scotland, and E. C. Stevens. fiT 1892-3 there were 76 members of the House of Representatives, and out of that, number 27 are dead. The list includes Sir G. Grey, Sir John Hall, George Fisher, Win. Rolleston, D. Pinkerton and Ebenezer Sandford (the last two were of the first elected on a Labor ticket in this Dominion). The giants in debate in-that Parliament were Grey. Fisher, Rolleston, Hall, Ballance, and John McKenzie. The great pro-Consul was easi.lv first, as with muffler on and one foot 'on his seat, he would "deal it out" all round, in a voice that had tears in it when he'was pathetic, and eut like razors when it was angered. With all his personality, his great experience in his culture, L have seen him standinig'alone in the Honw, when even Seddon°who politically worshipped Grey, deserted him. George F.sher, in my opinion, was in the firs'; rank as an orator and debater. When in hu prime with deep sonorous voice, gestures with his right hand up and two fingers extended, his apt literary quotations nuvrlardino- a practical s.p'e>-th, made him well worth listening to. Rolleston, albeit .ponderous at times, was bath, classical and practical, and one could always learn from him. John Hall was of the quiet style, and generally got some severe shots in that made opponents squirm. The two Johns, Ballance and McKenzie, were strong debaters, and Ballance particularly, though at times in very indifferent health, would raise the House to enthusiasm when he replied to his opponents. The clash of intellect between W. p. Reeves and George Hutchison in the 1892-3 Parliament was always looked for by both sides of the House, as well as the midnight oil orations of Scobie McKenzie. Seddon did not shina at first,and it was only when he 'became Premier that the dormant power of the man got a chance, which he showed to such advantage in bis encounters with Stout. Captain W. k. Russell, respected by both sides of the House, was another of the notables of that Parliament,, as well as our own E. M. Smith, who could not be excelled in repartee. Of the House of 1892-3, out of 76 members 27 are dead and 30 are not in Parliament. iStout became Chief Justice; W. P. Reeves and Hall-Jones became T-Tioh Commissioners; Carncross, McGowan, Mills, W. C. Smith and T. Thompson were translated to that haven where the political weary are at rest,' ie. the Legislative Council. The members in the present House of Representatives of 1910, who were in the Legislature of 1892-3 are Messrs Jas. Allen, W. C Buchanan, Jas. Carroll, Thos. Duncan, Arthur Guinness, A. W. Hogg, F. Lawry, W Jennings. Thos. Mackenzie, Tame PaTata, J. G. Ward and W. J. Steward. Summarising the position of Parliament of 1892-3, out of 70 members of .the House 28 are dead; and for the same period, out of 42 members of the Legislative Council 32 are dead-making a total of 60 deaths out of 118 members in (both [branches of the Legislature of 1892-3.

\o\v, one may ask .what is the cause of this great mortality? The deaths have been frequent and at times tragic. Sir Harry Atkinson left the Speakers chair in the Legislative Council.ami died, almost immediately. Hon. ratn.ii ,Di«nan on his way home after a session, died at the N«w Plymouth breakwater. John Ballance, after making a vigorous and al.le speech from the Ministerial benches, became seriously ill, and died under sad circumstances a short time after. Seddou (lied on the steamer 'Oswestry Grange so suddenly that every: one was shocked, l'oor Liriucli, iked ibv all Parliamentarians of those day*, shot himself in cnmnr"tu-room J. John Joyce, after addre-sir,- hi* constituents, dropped dead; and Job Vile, waiting for the declaration of the poll, was also called suddenly away. Later still, comparatively young men in Kirkbride, 0 Meara, Remington, Baume and Col. Pitt have *rone. And sp on, the sad story can gothe young, the middle-aged and the old

have got a higher call than that «f earthly ambition. What is ii contributory cause t« this excessive mortality is a pertinent question. The aiis\v,er- ii-', the long hours of Parliamentarians.. Time after time, members have sntt. from 10.30 a.m. one day until breakf(i t s4i time the following day. Let me instance the time of the crisis in the banking affairs of the Dominion in 1894. A secret committee was set up of members of all shades of political opinion in both branches of the Legislature to decide what was the wisest course to pursue. I was on that committee, and I remember the anxious sittings day and night over this matter. The question of the Bank of New Zealand closing its doors was a serious one; and the last meeting in connection with the proceedings did not end until three o'clock one morning, then some of the members had to walk a mile or more in the cold and sleet to their homes. The heating of Parliament buildings, ranging up to 70 degrees, is pro-; ductive of influenza, as members leave the warm building at all hours of the nicrht and* «o home in blustering, cold weather, to sleep in rooms as- cold as vaults. Why the sittings of Parliament do not start at 10 a.m. and finish at 10 p.m. puzzles a number of members who hate the present cruel system, which is destructive to members both morally and physically. The present Parliament ceuld well spend a day or two in amending standing orders in the direction of regulating the hours of sitting more in conformity with civilrsed beings than the present abominable system of legislating when members are*worn out for want of sleep. Who will effect the reform? Under which King Bezonia? Speak, or die!

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19100623.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 23 June 1910, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,522

THE LONGEVITY OF POLITICIANS Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 23 June 1910, Page 3

THE LONGEVITY OF POLITICIANS Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 23 June 1910, Page 3

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert