AN UNSELFISH POLITICIAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2854, 28 October 1890, Page 4

AN UNSELFISH POLITICIAN.

IN a recant issue of tlia Wellington Even- 1 iiig Post Mr Frank Lawry, formerly repre- 1 sonting Franklin North, now absorbed in | the adjoining electorate-! of Manuka" ana Franklin, is thus referred to in consequence of his decision not to contest the Manukau seat with Sir Maurice O'Rorke, the Speaker of the House. To be thus spoken of must be a source of considerable gratification i Mr Lawry. and the magnanimity ot nw conduct is certain to gain a gc«id " support for the Parnell sea for wl.id.ho has since announced himself as a taud dft Mr Frank Lawry. menber for Franklin North was one of the best of the somewhat scratch team vvith Auckland sent to represent it ill the 1..«t Parliament. Modest and onamiming, he possessed alargefundof good "Zd cT,!nmon sense, which he brought to hoar on every question submitted to him, and although not given to long speeches his words were always attentively listened to nnd carried weight when he did speak. It is sinco the prorogation, however, that Mr. L iwry haa established a claim to public Beatitude by showing that he considers the interests of tho Colony superior to the gratification of his own personal ambition. Mr Lawry's late district haa in a large degree been united to tho Onehunga electoral district, heretofore represented by the kpoaker, Sir Maurice O'Rorke. It is always difficult for a Speaker to keep in good f " vm)r -with his constituents. He cannot talk to them through Hansard, and any attontion to local wants must be given Uirougn I medium of aoine other member. A» all, ho is precluded from joining in the scramble for public money loCi \ l t '' 1 | ' |)^ i ' ,; success in which counts for so much w rfh the majority of electors. 3 M»un<M O'Rorke is a model bpeaker t " House of Representatives has sat under, oxcept, perhaps,, Sir David Monro, but he is naturally not as ijoputar in c '»i stituency as he is in the • strone Lawrv chosen to oppose him, there is strong reason to believe that the have boon forced to choose a new °P e *>\ er > Mr Lawry was quick to recognise what i< loss to the Legislature Sir Maurice 0 Korke would be, and how valuable to the Colony hi" services are. With self-denial aJ rare as it is commendable, Mr Lawry according y rioterniind not to .stand for Onehunga, but t» leave the Speaker a clear Held there so fur as he was concerned. It is to liu hoped the Onehunga electors will show then- appreciation of Mr Luv.y'sself-sacrihce, amH.he reasons for it, by returning bu Maiirice O'lturlce without opposition. It would \ je exceedingly difficult to find any mutable man to replace Sir Maurice in the Chair of tho House. Mr Hauilin, although an excellent Chairman of Committees and thoroughly versed in Parliamentary law, has scarcely the weight for the Speakers Chair. Mr A. P. Seymour, who may or may not be in the now Parliament, would not be an altogether bad Speaker, and has had some experience as a Chairman or Oommitees, but he is not personally popular. Mr W. J. Stewart might aspire to tne position, but could not till it satisfactorily If Mr Holiest on is, as we hope he will b returned to the new House, ho would piobably be the most fitting successor to Sir Maurice o'Korke, ahou.d thu hitter services unhappily not be available, but even Mr Rolleston would be a sorry substitute. We hope to sea Sir Maurice in his accustomed place next session, and we should also be glad if the electors of 1 urnell reoogniso Mr Lasvry's conduct in refraining from contesting Onehunga by rutiuing him for Parnell more especially if, as is considered probable, Mr Moss, the late member for that distiiet, is otherwise provided lor.