THE SPEAKER AND THE HOUSE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2396, 16 August 1892, Page 3

THE SPEAKER AND THE HOUSE.

(Press). Considerable anxiety is felt by the more experienced members with reference to the present state of affairs in tlie House. Day by day worse behaviour has prevailed; in fact, on the smallest provocation the House becomes a regular bear garden. Even Ministers aje quite as bad as the youngest members. Tffe “ lie direct ” is exchanged with a frequency of which the mere reports of debates give no idea, and most insulting expressions are freely hurled from one side to the other. Everyone js |ypxq]ering where things yfU end. More than onpp there |xav6 bpep plainly hinted threats of personal violence to be subsequently used outside the House, and people are beginning to wonder how long it will be before one member goes up to another and pqljs hi 3 nose, under that of the Speaker. Major Steward, unfortunately, seems wholly unable to cope with the gross rowdyism which has grown up under hjs too gentle rule. He evidently does ffla best to maintain oi’dori ami certainly to presorve impartiality, hut unluckily he is so anxious to show his fairness that he always gives the impression of weakness, upon which boi.li sides pi’esume. There is a lamentable lack of strength and backbone about his presidency, and of this more and more advantage is being taken until the orderjqving section of thp iimisc tcols spriopsly alarmed at the prospect of disorder mid indeporpm winch peers out ahead. A new departure has occurred in the Minister of Ijaiuls openly challenging ill© Speaker’s rujing by nqticp of mqtiqjj. fli >y»a stated in the lobbies this afternoon that the Speaker had declared that lie should allow no other business to be transacted until this nxattpr should have boon disposed of and Jlo hasjpvepedent for tips course, it was also reported thatiearpest efforts had beep made by private members to induce Mv J. McKenzie to withdraw his motiorij

I hub that he flatly refused, and intimated his intention of pressing it to the utmost. A feeling of excitement prevails generally among members, as it is felt that very awkward complications are ponding, and that nobody can foresee what tire end is to be, but nearly all seem to agree that a coup d'etat of some sort is needed to end the present discreditable state of affairs.