A NEW ZEALAND "LORD"
We are constantly reminded that the representative chamber of the New Zealand legislature is rapidly deteriorating, and that everything like mental power and legislative capacity is fast disappearing from its precints. That the complaint is well-founded we are not prepared to deny. On the other hand, we.are equally free to admit -that the " chosen of the people" will bear very favourable comparison indeed with ..the 11 chosen of the crown." Take]the following 'silly maudlin exhibition the hon. Mr Pharazyn made of himself on the occasion of his recent escapade before the Supreme Court under a charge of election ■ malpractices, and we leave it for anj'one to say whether the man is not more fit; inmate for a second childhood's nmsery hall than a Legislative Council. That he (Pharazyn) is a very eccentric old gentleman, remarks a contemporary, the evidence goes clearly to establish, and the reflection is naturally forced upon us, what can be expected from a Legislative body composed of many Pharazyns ? The questions the aged legislator asked were, exactly such quibbling queries a person who had no case would have asked. H^e starts off by quizzing the Returning Officer in the following strain : "Is it not a fact that you have been jolly at times?" — Witness: "I am always jolly." MrPharazyu: "But you have been imbibing at times, hav'nt you ?"— Witness: "I don't know what you mean."— Mr Pharazyn: "When you appeared before the Grand Jury the other day, were you perfectly sober?" — Witness : • ' Perfectly sober. Never could be soberer in my life." — Mr Pharazyn : "I am glad_ to hear it." Now^ considering that "the facts were admitted, and that the defence "^ut forward by Mr Pharazyn was a "mistake," could anything be more silly that such questions ? Then he was particularly anxious how the Returning Officer got possession of the ballot paper, as if that mattered to one in his situation. Again he interjects: •' I call your Honor's attention to the fact that the candidates for election were on the roll. " His Honor said that had nothing to do with it, and then the accused went off into a narrative about what took place in the street with Mr William Hutchison. "He met Mr Hutchison yesterday, and that gentleman asked ' Are you going to plead guilty to-mor-row?" He replied, 'certainly not. 1 Whereupon Mr Hutchison remarked • You know you are guilty, you gave two votes.' This would have roused the ire of a younger man." We can ♦ well "enough understand how a person that could go off into these tantrums became «onfused on the day of an election •andgret these arc thy Gods Q Israel.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18820119.2.19
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1489, 19 January 1882, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
442A NEW ZEALAND "LORD" Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1489, 19 January 1882, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.