THE ELECTIONEERING LOAFER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1875, 12 July 1884, Page 3

THE ELECTIONEERING LOAFER.

TO THK KMTOK. Sin,— This irrepressible personage will figure so largely in the political woild for the next ton days ov a, fortnight, and w ill nioreover play so conspicuous, if not reputable a part* therein that a short sketch of liis character may not be altogether out of place. The genus embraces all types and builds of men— from the dapper bantam-like little manmkin to tho ungainly, slouching giant— heavy of build, and slow and sluggish of action. But there are certain tr.iits, nevertheless, by which you can infallibly distinguish them. As a rule the typical loafer forswears h.ird woik. Nominally he may be ".sole agent" for some nostrum, w arranted to cure all the ills that fiesh is heir to. He may be a "commission agent," whoso working capital consists of a pen, a bottle of ink, and a ream of foolscap. He- niav even be a pettifogging lawyer, whose "law," like his logic, is wo'ndei fully pliable and elastic, bitf under whatever aspect he pi esents himself his disinclination for haid, honest woik, and a penchant for anything not calling for the e\ctci«e of much muscle is stnkingly apparent (the most thorough one I ever knew followed the calling of " undei taker's mute.") He is ne\er a Good Templai, or if, by some laic combination of chcu instances, he ever becomes one his eaily apostasy is inevitable. Indeed, che public-house is his shrine, and when those halcyon days— the election times— come lound. theic, seated at the post of honour, he may be .seen surrounded by an admit ing and appieciative crowd, plying his real calling. Very oiacularly,if not very elegantly, he expatiates to the open-mouthed' listeners, how Mi Silliton, his candidate, " is the man for Hal way." "Theie'sno mistake about Silliton. Once let Silliton in, and he'll soon see that honest woi king men get their rights." As for the Opposition candidate, Major Bumwell, "he is just a downright fiaud— a man who goes in to grind his own a\c." "He could tell them a thing or two about Bumwell if he liked." The tiansition fiom singing the piaises of Silliton to those, of Bum well is, however, both rapid and easy. Should Silliton ever get nndei a cloud with him, and Bumw ell be for thcoming w ith tho necessary consideration, then " Bumwell is the coming man." " Did'nt Buinwell serve with distinction in the gieat Clnckengoiy war?" "Bumw ell goes in, Sir, for the. good of the counti y, ami we intend to put him in." As for Silliton ho niav be right enough in his way, but tho-,e who know Silliton as he knows him will admit that he is a, bit of a shuffler. Such tactics astliese, it must be sonfessed, don't help to give one a veiy lugh opinion of this electionceiing lumnruy. They, however, possess the property of being lefreshinglv pliable and elastic, and it is wondeiful what such shallow, not to say despicable, reasoning may accomplish among men, the, bulk of whom are too apathetic or too ignoiant to reason for themselves. Heie in New Zealand the electioneeiing loafer flomishes apace. Once let the pinpoct of an election become apparent, and he becomes suddenly galvanised into life. The haunts wheie in oidinuy times he is accustomed to hybeinate become deseited; the street cornei sand beer-house tap-ioonis of thelaige towns ; the stoics and hotel bar pailouis of our countrydistiicts, become suddenly icdolent of his stump oiatory and his sliandygaffs. He can sound the piaises of any aspirant for political honoui s, if it is made his inteiest to do so. Is his candidate a Greyite ? Then down with the "land cormorants."' Well see if we can't stop land-shaiking. Is his man a Conservative? The opposing civ. is taken up with equal facility. Taken altogethei, he is a lemaikable per>ona_r<\ Let us hope that tho bulk of tho ele.'tois tlnoucrhiiut the colony will, at the picsent time, take what he s.iys f<n just what it is win tli.— l am, &c , Wm. Johns. Te Awamutu, July 11th, 1884.

Yt-s ! It is ceitainly tine. Ask any of your friends who ha\e purchased there Garlick and Cranwell hi\e m mcrotis unnsked for and very favourable; commendations from country custorrt rs on their i\u HmL picking of I'iirniture, Crocker), and Glass, &( . Ladies ,md tjentleniPM about to fumuh should remember that G.irluk and Cianwcll's is THi' Chonp Furni'.hintf W.iu'hotise of Auckland Fm nit urc to suit all ( l.issps ; also Carpets, l'loor Cloths and all House Necessaries If \ our new hou=e is nearly finished, or, you are jromsj to -;pt mariied, \isit G.irliLk .md Cranwell, Qnecn-strect and I.orre-street, Auckand Intendii'H; purchasers can haxearitnlogue sent frco