The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 666, 19 September 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact jiutice to all men. Of whatever stute or persuasion, religious or political • • • • • Here shall the Prer» th« PeorLß's right maintain. Una wed by influence and unbribed by gain.

TVUSDA Y SEPTEMBER 19 1876

The disgraceful scene which has couvulsed the House for the last few days, bringing Representative Government and Colonial Institutions into contempt, has at length been brought to an end by a incautious move on the part of the Opposition and the good sense of the majority of the members. Believing that they were able to carry a motion for adjournment — that a sufficient muster of Government supporters to outvote them would not te forthcoming — the Opposition risked a division, and were beaten by a majority of eleven. Mr BhllancVs amendment, which had become the main question, "That Ministers seats should not be vacated, and are not vacated," was then put and carried by a majority of thirty-eight to twenty four. Thus the House has, by resolution, condoned whatever disqualification may have existed from a technical in- ! fringement by Ministers of the Disqualification Act, and, in to doing, it has clearly the precedent of the Imperial Parliament in a precisely analogous case, that of the Marquis of Hjutington, who, wheu an tinder-Secretary of State, took his seat in the Hou.se, an Act that only four Under-Secretaries should httTo seats in the House to the contrary, notwithstanding, he making the fifth Under-Secretary in Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition drew the Premier's attention to the matter, who admitted the error, but Pallia men t declined to declare the Marquis unsealed. Now, that the Disqualification farce is played out, and that so large a section of the Opposition, both within and without th« House, have expressed their disapprobation of the obstructive measures which have been resoited to, it is earnestly to bo hoped that the practical business of the session will be allowed to proceed. The House and the country are alike wearied and disgusted with tb&cenes which have been enacted during the past few weeks.