THE MOORHOUSE SERVICES RECOGNITION BILL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 134, 2 July 1880, Page 4

THE MOORHOUSE SERVICES RECOGNITION BILL.

The Post gives the following account of what was said and done in Parliament on : the above subject:— When this bill was brought before the Lower House., By Sir George/Grey, it was debated, with the utmost seriousness, and members applied themselves diligently, /to conferring . what-' they 1 generally'. considered,. and what the mover particularly believed to be, an honor 'exceeding ; anything else that the 'Lou'ftb : of 1 country bestow. The Xprtjfj, . however, appear to have ) treated the affair as farcical in the extreme, and at once deprived Mr Moorhouse of the chance of a railway,-ffee pass like unto those struck for and used by the original directors :of-the Wellington Tramways Compahy.l.’ 1 When ColOhel Whitmore moved the second reading of the Bill, and Colonel Brett seconded it, Captain Fraser '• likened' the affair to a trumpery farce" such as might be expected in a mimic ; [parliament af'/a 'lunatic 5 asylum, and said the;reward,.would be unworthy of the donor and acceptor. Besides/said he, the lines might have to be sol(i to pay, our debts. -'.A, ticket given -fori ever-wasworth billions of moneys 5 Fie held . that a. grant of l sooo acres' of ,'land would, be somewhat better itiian/a' paltry leather medal such as ,was, proposed. ,;Mr' Mahtell pointed out difficulty which might be' the outcome of what hei termed// this ridiculous way of trying to show,respect.”,/It was this: A future possessor might get; his pocket picked in a tram, and be arrested for travelling.withbutpaying liMare/ : Supposing too,, yciifc on /Mi\. Mantel}, railways Were-not a in „ vogue, ] would, they give Mr iMoorhdrised d> free pass for Cobh’s coaches; ;or, if"Ave' ’ adopted the Japanese/method'' of travelling in; wheelbarrows, 'would, itlmy.,, give Mr, Moorhouse anVUliis .descendants an: everlasting free;/jarrowf ' Mr Moorhouse'might file! called.' upon even.'to pay for'ithe. medal as the bill omitted all mention of who Avas to pay for it. Witli a view, of haying a better mode of recognition lie moved that the bill he tin-own out. Mr Scotland suggest ed that the Canterbury people should give something,lliernsclves, and wanted tojicnow/why fbe hUe.Gnvonuiini'd, had .not ngiyen >■ spine.thing.MiyP. Buckley thought, it.AVas .ajpasfi oL‘.‘.save me froiu.uiy, friends,” and looked upon, the bill as'a practical joke.' .It r'dferfed 1 to theeldestheir. iHpconf,essedhenc\;er : heard of a youngest heixnbefore.,;The bill was’aVi.in'SiilttO'MrMoorhouse; TJiPollen }ia(]|.ipcj.lugli an appreciation of Mr Moorhousc to,,thuik of i passing such a measure.- Ho objected to introducing ;th’e ’ testimonial- /system into Parliament, enough had bbeiyseeu of it in. regard to . ship , captains anil pursers of.coasting boats;•..•who. got.»a: testii'hbnial : for Jit tending to sea-sick ladies/i As Tor giving a they, might as Avcll give a ticket/for,'; soup. >■ l Mr. fChamberlin. jaaid dh'e> had heard .’Mr* 'Moorhouse -sriy s - it wotild bin giving,liim/d/'State; pauper’s 1 ticket. This sot that - the horn i gentleman -have i made a.iiiistftke. Sir OD. ‘Boll characterised ;! the 1 // prqjiosed v ( /recognition/' as “ trumpevy, some further discussion; the BilllAvaa thrown'(Ait'liy'l9/0 pm.! • 7'i• >7 -oi !1 itt tj . <» u C7nil j>i iv, d yM s