ECCENTRICITIES FROM “HANSARD.”

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1049, 7 November 1877, Page 3

ECCENTRICITIES FROM “HANSARD.”

MB FISHES FACETIOUS. Mr Fisher—The late Government talk about their policy, but it strikes me that their policy is like their Treasury —there is no bottom to it. They talk about our policy, but I think they will find that we shall he able to bring down a policy that they will be able to dance to. MS SWANSON SEVERE. Sir R. Douglas—The hon. member for Parnell has treated the members of the Provincial Council as badly as it was possible to do —treated them, as I may say, like a parce of school boys. I am happy to say that wi cannot have that sort of thing carried on ii r his House. I shall vote for no Ministry whose members would do such things. Mr Swanson—There is no necessity foi treating members of this House like school boys. You have only to hold up your fingoi aud some of them will come. ME PYEE ON POLICE. Mr Vincent Pyke He had always thought that a policeman meant a peace

I >fficer, but, to his consternation, the last time \e entered the police barracks in Dunedin he ound the men drilling with Snider rifles. Vhat they wanted with these weapons down here he had not the slightest idea, nor had he men themselves. To make the matter a dill greater farce they were paid a shilling a lay less then the men were paid who swept the crossings. MR DARFE ON BOBTAILS. Mr Barff—lf the Armed Constabulary <ystem were established and carried out. in its >resent form they would lose all the best of their nen, for, instead of paying them a fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work, it was proposed r.o reduce them to starvation wages, and they would have nothing but the very “ tag-rag md bobtail” of all countries parading and promenading the streets, who would not know a criminal if they saw one. COLONEL DUETT ON HOUSEBUILDING. The Hon. Colonel Brett had a very greflt objection to religious bodies holding lotteries. It was a disgrace to any religious body to resort to such means for raising money for the erection of a church. It was a common practice to erect a church before there were any means. He considered that was a dishonorable transaction. That very eminent divine the late Primate of New Zealand, Bishop Selwyn, when he went Home, raised his voice against an attempt in his diocese to do the same thing. The reverend gentleman said he considered that it was a dishonest act, and would not permit it. It was a dishonest act for any man to commence building a house without having the means, and so it was with a] religious body. It was uncalled for and impious, and therefore he would raise his voics against it. ME DE LAUTOUB ON WIFE DESERTION. Mr De Lautour draw the attention of the Government to the great number of cases of desertion that occurred in the colony. These were to be met, if the Act came into operation in its present shape, by making the man who deserted his wife or children pay a few shillings a week, or bo imprisoned for six months. Why should this man be imprisoned at the expense of the State ? Why not take more summary measures, and bring in the whip? That would cure the evil, and nothing else would. Men deserted their children probably because they had not the means to keep themselves in luxury and at the same time clothe their children properly. It was no great punishment to keep such men at the expense of the State, as they were mostly idlers.