THE HON J. BRYCE IN DEFENCE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2722, 9 December 1881, Page 2

THE HON J. BRYCE IN DEFENCE.

(Pee Pbess Association.) Wanganui, Dec, 8. The Hon. J. Bryce writes to this morning’s “ Chronicle ” as follows : “ Will you permit me to say, in reference to Tuesday’s meeting, that in attending I had no intention of taking any part in its proceedings beyond that of a mere listener, and did not even occupy a seat on the platform. I have always taken an interest in the affairs of the town, and with the the good people thereof, shall continue to do so. It does occur to me that the position I have occupied, and I hope I may add still occupy, in regard to Wanganui, constitutes as strong a moral claim to be heard in self-defence as the possession of i£2o worth of property in the Borough would do. However, let that pass. I had no intention of urging the claim on Tuesday night, and only went on the platform in compliance with what I believed to be the general wish on the part of the meeting. Of course the Chairman was quite right in deciding that technically I bad no right in myself to address the meeting, but it is’ equally of course that a majority of the meeting could confer that right, and I certainly believe that such a majority was desirous of hearing me. It was no doubt evident enough that Messrs Willis, Cross and Notman did not wish, and it does not seem likely that they felt any shame in leading the uproar. Indeed, their statement that because the Government,

of which I am a member, are on their trial, therefore I was not a liberty to defend it, is so curiously at variance with English fair play as to indicate an absence from their minds of the perceptions of justice, which might cause them to feel ashamed ; but although it may be hopeless to seek to punish these gentlemen by an appeal to feelings which have no existence, they are not for all that likely to escape punishment which they can feel. The bulk of the people of the town of Wanganui, I am convinced, have no sympathy with such unfair and indecent tactics, nor will they tamely submit to have their political destinies ruled by the rowdy element. This disgust which many must feel at the steady deterioration of our political institutions, of which Tuesday’s meeting was but a sign, should find expression in the pollingbooths on Friday— John Bryce.”