A VISITING POLITICIAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3115, 11 January 1911, Page 9

A VISITING POLITICIAN.

TRIBUTE TO MR. R. H. LEVIEN

Ex-Sydneyite writes:—‘‘l see by your issue this morning _that Mr. “Harry” Levien, M.L.A. (N.S.W.), is in our midst, and nobody would be better pleased to see him than the writer. I remember well the year 1880, when Mr. Levien entered the N.S.AV. Assembly as the senior member for Tamworth. He was then, according to the Sydney press, the ‘baby’ of the House, being only 29 years of age. That was a stormy period in the politics of N.S.W., and young Levien (as he was then called), with Sir Edmund Barton and Sir George Reid, led Six* Henry Parkes (Premier) a ‘merry time. These three politicians were the youngest men in the House, and sat together. and were the cynosure of all eyes, much to the displeasure of Sir Henry Parkes, who lost no time in telling the House that ho regarded them as enemies of the Constitution, and would resent any suggestions from this trio, and would allow “no ) young cuckoos to lay eggs in my nest. In ISB2, the Parkes Government was defeated on its Land Bill, and appealed to the country, with the result that Sir Henry Parkes and Dr. Renwick were defeated in their own constituency (East Svdnev) by Sir Edmund Barton and Sir" G. Reid, and Mr Levien returned as the senior member for Tamworth. From this period till the year 1900' Mr. Levien was not so pronounced in his utterances in the House,. but on the advent of Sir George Dibbs to power with a majority t of one be reasserted himself, and it was generahy admitted by friend and foe that he instrumental in keeping the Dibbs Government in office for three years. On the Redistribution of Seats Bill, ramworth was entitled to one niembei only, and the surprise of the following election was when Mr. Levien defeated his old colleague, Mr. Garland (then Attorney-General), by nearly two votes to one. Mr. Levien has since easily retained his seat, despite the fact that in the Federal contests Tam worth always votes Labor. As a lawyer, his services are best sought for in the police courts, and as an advocate lie is probably 'without a peer. After a long lapse of vears he is now best known as the ‘father’ of the N.S.W. House.