Mr Bryce in Explanation.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4040, 9 December 1881, Page 2

Mr Bryce in Explanation.

Respecting the late meeting at Wanganui, the Hon. Mr Brjee writes to the 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 hare always taken an interest in the affairs of the town, and with the permission of the good people thereof, and shall continue to do so. It does occur to me, 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 £20 worth of property in the borough would de. However let that pass; I had - no intention of urging the claim oh.Tuesday night, and only -vent ou the platform in compliance with what I believed to be < a general wish on the part of the meeting Of course the chairman was quite right.ia.' eliciting that technicality. I had no right myself in addressing the meeting, but it was equally right of course that a' majority of the meetiug could confer that, right, and. I certainly beliere that if such a majority was desirous of hearing me it was'no doubt evident enough that Messrs Mills, Gross, and Notman did not wish it, and it does not seem likely that they felt any shame in leaving the uproar. Indeed* their statement that because the Govern* ment, of which I am a member are on their trial, therefore I was not atL. liberty to defend it, is so curiously* at variance with English fair play as to indicate an absence from their minds of the perception 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 whioh have no existence, they are not for all that likely to escape puuishment which they can feel. The bulk of the people 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. The disgust which many must feel at the steady deteriorating of our political institutions, of which Tuesday's meeting was but a sign, should find expression in the polling booths on Friday.—Johk Betce.