XTRACTS FROM 'HANSARD."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2199, 14 August 1889, Page 3

XTRACTS FROM 'HANSARD."

A MAJjBITT'B POWBB,

Mr Bruce— Al hough we have am» jorily to o&rry this measure, we do not wieh to ride rorghshod over tie minority. la the words of a great poet, — — — 0, it fs excellent To have a giant's strength ; but it is Tyrannous to use it like a giant. We do not wish to me our strength except for what we deem to be the best interests c£ the colony. IGSOBAOT KLTCCTOBB. Mr Stuart-M'.nteatb — The honorable member for Waipawa to!d us last night of tome of the difficulties of c»nvajs<ng in the country, and he told ui of a meeting which lie attended, at wrrch he was met by a large number of old ladies with Bibles In their hands. Th% thought that be had come * o preach, so ignorant were they of what was going on— so ignorant •ven of the meaning of an eleotoral oanvass that they thought their representative was coming up, not to talk to them about politic*, but to conduct service and to preach to them. Now, if the class of ' electors in that honorable gentleman's district are ao utterly ignorant of tbeir political privileges as they were d*Foribed to be, why should we give to each one of those individual ignoramus9B —to etch one of those persons utterly Ignorant of the fact of the franchise — an additional weight as compared with those who fully reaise and keenly exercise the prlvieges of the franchise ? TIHIMSiIAMXKTABY lIKGITAaB . De Fitchett. — The honorable member for Newton pointed out that the session before last the Premier advocated re trenchment, and he also pointed ont that, as a matter of fact, there was a msjorlty of the House in favor of retrenchment, end the Government therefore bad a m*jorlty, Jn the next setslon there wai a majority in favor of Protection, and tht Premier introduced a protective tariff ; and so vgaln the Government bad a majority. Now he suggests tbat this ••selon the Government wants a mi jorf ty, and has to get it. If I were to use the word *' trookline," would that be unf filamentary, Sir ? Mr Speaker.— lt Is not the duty of the Speaker to answer each a question ; but if yon use unparliamentary language I shall stop you. ■ Dr Fitohett.— Ton do not say tbat It h unparliamentary • therefore I shall use It until I am told thtt I am ia the wrong. THK HAM SYSTEM. Sir G. Grey— Every person ,In the lobbies was asking what the result would b« If eertaln vottag papers were used in a eerUln way, and how this wonderful new system was to be managed. Some had already mastered the snbjaot, and they became the teaohers of other* j and those who did not undent and It did their beet to acquaint themselves with Us details. 2a every direetlon members were conversing on the subject and studying it, In the belief that thsy were abort to help to aehlave some great end. Some fell to disputing on tbe subject ; constant srgnments arose; even in my own caie—l had for fears lived with a venerable friend without any dispute whatever, and yet at breakfast one morning we found ourselves.lnvolved for the first time in a very wordy straggle at to what was to be done with ,Jthe sopetfluous votes— more than were t squired In particular voting papers. TES INFLUENCE 07 CITIES. Mr Brood. — It is a well-known fact also tbat London bai exerolsed an overshadowing and not always beneficial Influence over legislation. Then, we have Paris— emotional, restless, blatant Paris —speaking for France, snd embroiling her in quarrels with European nations. Tbat Is another case of tbe icflaenoe of large eitiss. rucKtsa vv xhbzb slxbvjss. Sir G. Grey— Tbe Hon the Premier told us, with apparently great earnestness, that the country people bad vast and strong claims. And. then ha said they tuoked op their sleeves and went to work : and - Immediately there were great oheers. He described how hard they worked In the country— these farming-men— and therefore what great claims they had, and intimated that be wss determined to protoot them and eepouie their cause — as If there was any partloalar merit In tuoking up sleeves.

An hon member— And wearing hobnailed boots !

Sir George Grey— Yee, " and wearing hobnailed boot*." That is the qualification my honorable friend would have represented by votes.