Australian Politics.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 95, 30 March 1883, Page 2

Australian Politics.

MINISTERIAL SCANDAL.

THE COPELAND EPISODE.

The principal event of the week has been the Copeland episode on Saturday night. Mr Copeland, the Minister of Works and Railways, who is not an Irishman, attended the St. Patrick's Banquet, at which Mr Redmond was also Sir Patrick Jennings was the only other Minister present. When the Ministry was proposed, Mr Copeland rose to reply, and then it was seen he was not m a fit state, and his friends tried hard to persuade him to sit down, but he obstinately refused, and rambled on amidst interruptions to justify himself for refusing a free pass to Mr Redmond. His language was not the the most choice. Eventually he WBs compelled to sit down , and the Evening News states that- he placed Ms head on the table and went to sleep with his pipe m his mouth. The Herald reported the speech fully, and the next morning there was much, adverse comment, and Mr Copeland's resignation urged. '1 he matter was mentioned m the House by Mr Buchanan, who stigmatised the conduct of the Herald managers as brutal, disgraceful, and malicious. A debate followed, m the course of which Mr Stuart stated that Mr Copeland intended to resign, but his resignation had been withheld, and at the instance of Mr Buchanan, who had gone round with a requisition an attempt is being made to coarre Ministers into retaining their colleague. . Public opinion, however favours his resignation.