The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1890. LABOR MEMBERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2137, 13 December 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1890. LABOR MEMBERS.

Sfteeal of our contemporaries have gone almost into hysterics, literally speaking, over the fact that twenty labor representatives now occupy seats in Parliament. One would think, judging by the scare which this has caused, that these are the representatives of an alien power, and are ready to hand us over bound in fetters to some foreign tyrant te be reduced to slavery. We cannot see where the necessity for all the excitement comes in. If we examine the list closely we can discover nothing dreadful in it. Let us begin with undoubtedly their leader —Mr W. P. Beeves. Who is he ? Without a single exception he is the most scholarly, the cleverest, and the ablest debater in Parliament. He is besides a gentleman who has an enormous interest in the wellbeing of the colony, inasmuch as that he is part proprietor and editor of the Lyttelton limes. Mr Percival also is a young gentleman of wealth and social standing, sound, steady, and deep-thinking. He has exhibited great tact in Parliament, and made one of the best, if not the best speeches that were delivered during the last elections. Mr Joyce is a lawyer, and sat in the late Parliament, and so did Mr E, M. Taylor. It is evident they rendered good services to their constituents or they would not have been elected. Mr Hall-Jones, of Timaru, is a very respectable man, and has filled several public positions locally. Then we go to Dunedin and find Messrs Pish and Hutchison —two very old members —down as labor representatives, Both these gentlemen are thoroughly competent members. Next we find Mr Dawson, a brewer, who has occupied the position of mayor of the city amongst the representatives ®f labor, and the only real working men elected are Messrs Earnshaw and Pinkerton. How, these gentlemen are said to be well educated, clever, reasonable men who have studied politics for years. Men of this stamp have risen to the position of Cabinet Ministers in the Imperial Parliament, and why should we be surprised at their election in this colony ? Then we ceme to Mr Carncross, proprietor and editor of a small newspaper. He at least ought to know something of politics, especially as he is a man of intelligence, energy, and ability. Invercargill sends Mr Kelly who is highly spoken of as a good speaker also, and who has been mayor of the town. Mr O’Connor, who has been about 20 years in Parliament, ought not to frighten anyone, and neither ought Mr T. L. Buick, a young carpenter of Blenheim, who has the reputation of being one of the best elocutionists in Hew Zealand. In Wellington we find Mr George Pisher, an ex Cabinet Minister of the Atkinsonian persuasion, but we shall leave him there. Mr Kennedy Macdofiald is a well-to-do auctioneer, a clever financier, and an excellent debater. He will have few superiors in Parliament, Mr A, W. Hogg, partproprietor and editor of the M asterton Star, is one of the most trenchant writers and best speakers in the colony, yet with all one of the gentlest and kindest of men. He will be the equal of any in debate, Mr W. L. Eees, of Auckland, is a lawyer of repute- In 1887 he was a member, and was offered the position of At-torney-General in Sir George Grey’s Ministry, but declined it on the ground that Sir Robert Stout was better entitled to it. Surely one so self-saerificing need not frighten people. Mr J. M. Shera, of Auckland, is a stranger to us, except that his name has very frequently figured in the newspapers as taking a prominent part in public matters in that city. He is also said to be a good speaker and a good man of basinets. How, we want to know where the necessity for all the alarm comes in. Messrs Pinkerton, Earnshaw, Kelly, Buick, and Hall-Jones are the only real representatives of labor elected, and we should feel surprised if these do no turn out the equals of others in Parliament. There is nothing to be alarmed at. These gentlemen will realise their responsibilities, and do what they think is right. We have nothing to complain of. The law makes all men equal and all men have an equal right to a seat in Parliament.