BUYING A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 85, 6 September 1873, Page 3

BUYING A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The following is from the Wellington Evening Post:—

“ Mr. J. S. Macfarlane is an exceedingly generous and patriotic man. He does good by stealth, and we have no doubt he blushes to find it fame. He has the good of the country and the purity of Parliament so much at heart that, although only a private gentleman, he is willing to make a heavy pecuniary sacrifice to ensure them. He thought that Mr. M'Leod’s occupancy of a seat in the House of Representatives was an injury to the Province of Auckland, and so he lent Mr. M'Leod £2OO on the understanding that payment would never be demanded if Mr. M‘Leod resigned his seat, and the virtuous M'Leod, thinking probably that the £2OO would do him more good than he could do the country, did resign. It was, of course, quite an after-thought that Mr. Macfarlane became a candidate for the vacant seat. The desire to get rid of M'Leod could not possibly have had any connection with a desire to step into his representatives shoes. Happy Mr. M'Leod. Some men sell their votes. He would not do such a thing, He sells his seat, and preserves his independence. It has been suggested that he also sold those constitutents who trusted in him, but this aspect of the case is not worth arguing. We need not discuss the morality of the transaction. We are only too glad too get rid of M'Leod on any terms. He was certainly dirt cheap at the prise. Had he adopted the same plan as officers who desired to

sell out used to in the purchase days, and informed, not the mess, but Bellamy’s, that, he was willing to go out for a consideration, considerably more than £2OO would have been very promptly subscribed to get rid of him. He has thrown himself away. We wonder whether Mr. Macfarlane would buy out one or two more members. There are several who could well be spared, and if Mr. Macfarlane desires to purge Parliament of those who are no credit, we could indicat e a few who could probably be got cheap. Mr. Macfarlane has thrown quite a new light on the subject of getting rid of objectionable members. We fancy the electors of one portion of the cathedral city would willingly subscribe handsomely to purchase a vacancy in their representation.” The above appears to be based on the following report from the Southern Cross, of a speech made by Mr. Macfarlane : — “ It has been stated that I had put the screw on, and forced Mr. M'Leod to resign, in order that I might get the seat. Now, the fact- is that I advanced him £2OO on the condition that he should resign, as I considered that his being in the House was an injury to the Province. A friend of Mr. M'Leod, a man who appeared to be anxious to assist him, came to me, and 1 took certain liabilities off his hands on condition that he would resign, I taking M'Leod’s bill for the same, for the payment of which he will never be asked by me. If lending a man £2OO be screwing him up, then I am the guilty party.” By a late telegram it will be seen that Mr. Macfarlane was defeated.