Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 277

Transcript

himself heard. I don’t think Mr Rolleston ever was. He was a Barnacle permanent official, until he became Superintendent. Mr Kennaway was for a considerable time in office, but he got nicely quartered upon the Agent-General’s office at Home.

Amongst the Tite Barnacles always in good snug office as long as memory goes is Mr John Marshman, a dry subject. He has been auditor, Agent at Home, Treasurer I think, and what is he now? Now what claim have these people, not referring to this gentleman alone, to be continuing in office, provided for by the public, fed, clothed, doctored, their children educated, no risk, no competition, and then probably to claim compensation or a pension? What, after having been provided for for years! Look at Mr Hamilton for example. There is a man paid off in the full vigor [sic] of his life with 333 pension, and he may live to sponge on us for the next thirty years, and what has he done for it? He has been the whole time well paid, in power, running no risk, never out of employ, no bad debt, no competition in business! all at our expense, and then we have to provide for him and his for life. This seems to me too good. I would like to know who are they that they should be sheltered from the world in this manner and yet be allowed to criticize the very people who feed them? For we know all about Mr Hamilton’s connection with the Times establishment, and we also know his domineering, intolerant character. There are a few who remember having dealings with the Customs at Lyttelton, and the R.M. Court in Christchurch, and who know his crotchetty humbugging ways. Haven’t we seen hundreds of his dog eared foolscaps? Haven’t we heard his overbearing speech “Who is that man?” pointing to some stranger passer by. “Don’t know, Sir”. “You should know – find out who he is!” – Accordingly, “Sir, please to give me your name”. “My name? What do you mean?”. “Well, Sir, Mr Hamilton wants to know who you are”. “Oh, by all means. Give him my card.” And then when given the card saying how dared he ask for his name. Thus the story was told as, and I believe it true. Again I ask, have these people a prerogative from Heaven, that they should be provided for for life? It is time this sort of thing was stopped. Let each have a turn. Do they pretend that others are not equal to their duties? But wake up taxpayer, and no longer allow yourselves to have quartered upon you for life these Tite Barnacles. Five years of such clover is enough.