PARLIAMENTARY PLEASANTRIES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 530, 12 January 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY PLEASANTRIES.

* Wo are prone to declaim against tin? conduct of our members of Parliament during the heat of debate, but hero issomething that occurred in the Victorian Parliament that out-herods Herod. During the debate on the Payment of Members Bill Mr. Purves seriously offended Mr. Munro, who contended that building a hall at Carlton could not be: said to be influencing a constituency- " But building a hall with other people's money is," interjected Mr. Purves-. "Well," retorted Mr. Munro, "I (.lid not go to the Berlin University as the result of a swindle." " You lie," said Mr. Purves, amid a good deal of agitation, the House being in a temper to Hare up —a temper not soothed when Mr. Macpliersou was heard to ejaculate that no one would make- such an assertion as Mr. Mnnro's but a " mean hound." Mr. Woods moved that these words, be takeiti down, and the usual discussion arose att to what the exact words were. In themidst of it, Mr. Purves said he would go. beyond Mr. Macpherson and would say that the man who uttered such words was not only a mean hound but a lying hound. This brought the House up to fever heat. "Do you say that of a member of this House," exclaimed the Chief Secretary. " Let him dare, let him dare.."' continued Mr. Berry, addressing his f<>'« lowers ; " wo will put him where —, * and the rest of the sentence was lost in the uproar. " Let him dare," said Mr. Purves with scorn ; " why, I know how the Chief Secretary came to (his, Colony. I dare do aught but wrong." u Coward !'' shrieked Mr. Woods, " you are shuffling out of it !"—a remark which brought further appeals to the much-perplexed chair. Mr. Lalor, after a struggle, obtained po:scssion of the floor, and communicated, the intentions of the Government. Mr. Macpherson was to be let oil', booan.se ho was usually orderly, but an eye was to bo kept on Mr. Purves, who is charged with, irritating the majority every time ho addresses the House. "1 will take, tho first opportunity," said tho Minister of Customs, "of bringing hiin to condign punishment, and of proving that a rogue is generally a ooward." By this tiino most of tho members had cooled down, and wero beginning to be ashamed of tho, temper which had been displayed, and the storm subsided as suddenly as it arose.