Mr Bruce, M.H.R

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 19, 2 August 1892, Page 3

Mr Bruce, M. H.R

(New Zealand T»mes). Mr Bruce followi Mr Smith in the financial debate on Friday night, and is loudlj applauded by both sides of the House. We note that the round, fane yoice which has been absent so lone, has come bock as fresh as ever, and we ob--serve that the oratorj and courtesy and good temper of its owner are unimpaired. He begins with a manly, touching reference (as is indeed most fitting in his position) to Mr Mucarlhur, which forces the House into attention, and when he gets to ' peace to his ashes and honour to his memory, 1 he gets murmurs of nssent, which come from all round. Mr Bruce then places himself in the House, as to Parties, defines what party is, a means to an end, sir, not an end in itself. He makes pleasant reference to Mr Smith, opines that life is too short to answer the rast variety of subjects he has touched, and then plunges into the reasons he has for not supporting the Government. He handles the property tax in a polished style, he talks about large estates at great length with much knowledge of the world, ' captains of industry ' they are, the ewners of large estates, he says. When he refers to Mr McLean, and says that he was very much pained when that gentleman charged the other side with grinding the faces of their work people, we all remember the incident. But he does not deliver his intended remarks, for Mr McLean explains, and he accepts the explanation in that fine courteous way of his. He goes on referring to the salient points of Opposition criticism, co operative contracts, the Labour Bureau, land nationalisation, the Labour members— whom he compliments in his £ rare and stately manner for the intel* ligence with which they demote their attention to all the subjects in the political field— the freehold tenure, the exodus of capital, the influx of labour, and many other th ngs. In his dealing with all these subjects he handles all debateable matter with decision and rigour, in that measured stately style of his, and he never says one personal word nor does he make a remark that appears in the least degree tinged with party feeling. He has a striking defence of the Opposition against the charge of having created a panic, which reminds us of his seafaring days. "If lam one of the starboard watch on board a ship, and if some one in the port watch dees something to endanger the safety of the ship, I, and those on my side, call out and remonstrate against the risk to us all. That, sir, is all the Opposition has done.' He soon reaches his peroration, keejing up his polished language, his courtesy, his modesty of statement, his perfectly frank and perfectly gentle methods of reasoning, and holding the nttenton of the House closely. When lie finished both .sides give him a great clapping of hands.