MR GOSCHEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3059, 23 February 1892, Page 2

MR GOSCHEN.

Tkk present Chancellor of the Exchequer has been during his entire political careeer a most consistent Liberal ; the disciple, follower, and supporter of the G.0..M. till Mr Gladstone caused the disruption of the great Liberal party in England by his purchase of the Irish votes, and having been so much struck by rending Mr Goschen's recent speech at Cambridge, we are forced to give a couple of extracts which should be worthy of the personal consideration of the electors of New Zealand in general. He says:—"With regard to "One man one vote," it was introdnced ostensibly to enable a large number of labour candidates to enter Parliament. Ha was expressing the view of every Unionist when he spoke with the greatest respect of all the labour members at present in the House of Commons, and they would not be sorry to see their number increased ; but he asked the country to be careful as regards the status generally of the members of Parliament. He wished him to remain absolutely independent, the friend and not the servant of the constituency." And again, " He did not think that good work was always to be done bv men who had their eye upon the door." During the last two sessions of the Atkinson regime we had painful experience of the truth of this statement. Sir Harry had only to hold up his little finger, threaten the hon. members to make the matter a vote of confidence, and to save a dissolution and secure their honoraria lor a couple of sessions hon. members would and did vote contrary to their political pledges and convictions. So far as New Zealand politics are concerned, the words Conservative and Liberal are mere clap-trap, and if our legislators would simply devote their energies and any talent they may possess to practical work, avoid fancy, experimental, and class legislation, foster the introduction of capital, thus increasing the demand for labour and raising the scale of wages, this grand colony would soon outstrip all her competitors in the path of progress, prosperity, and wealth ; but you will always find that men void of education are incapable of taking broad or extended views on any subject, and can only regard as necessary legislation such measures as may present themselves to their own shortsighted political spectacles.—Exchange.