The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2984, 29 August 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1891.

The disorderly scenes which occurred in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night and Thursday can only be regarded as a public disgrace and scan'lal. The colony has been wont to boast of the orderly and dignified bearing of the representative chamber. Unhappily this boast can no longer be made. The cause of the disturbance was a most contemptible one. Mr McKonzie, the Minister for Lands, had charged Mr Richardson, his predecessor in office, in effect, with corrupt practice during his administration. This was resented by Mr Richardson, who at a later stage moved for a committee of enquiry on tho charges made against him. The Premier tried to avert this by the technical objection that us the words complained of had been withdrawn they no longer existed. Mr Bryce remarked that the Premier ought to be ashamed of himself for advancing such an argument, and thereupon the Premier moved that the words be taken down. A disorderly scene ensued, and Mr Bryce was eventually censured for his conduct by resolution of the House. This decision is on the face of it so grossly unjust that it is its own condemnation. The expression used characterises in mild terms the tactics adopted by the Premier in attempting to shield his colleague from a well-merited censure that he should have received at the hands of the House for his unmanly attack upon his predecessor in office, and through him upon the character of one who lias passed over to the great majority. The verdict ot the House can only be regarded as the finding of men who vote without reflection and are blindly led by those whom they regard as their leaders. We observe that Mr Bryce contemplates tendering his resignation as member for Waikato on account of this vote of censure passed upon him. We can hardly think that Mr Bryce entertains seriously any such intention. Under some circumstances a vote of censure would no doubt be discreditable, but under existing circumstances it is very much the reverse. Eren if the Premier considered the expression used by Mr Bryce unparliamentary, he should, in common decency, have allowed some other member to have moved in the matter. The eager haste with which he seems to have grasped at the occasion showed a personal malignity only awaiting an opportunity to assert itself. Again, if the vote had been passed by men of the same political calibre as Mr Bryce himself the position would be different. He is, however, condemned by men many of whom have no past parliamentary experience, who are incapable of discriminating between good and bad manners (and for this rmson somo extenuation

must bn plnnclcfl for them), blind followers, too, of revolutionary leaders, who are ini'med with a strong personal hatred and jealousy of Mr Brvcn. The condemnation of such men under such circumstances is the greatest compliment Mr Bryce could receive. Mr Bryce seems aggrieved that his record as a member never previously called to order by the Speaker should have been broken. If the gentleman who previously occupied the Speaker's chair with so much dignity and efficiency had still presided over the House that record would, we venture to say, be yet unbroken. The indignity offered to Mr Bryce will meet with thecondemnation of all right-thinking men, and he will arise from the ordeal stronger than ever. The resignation of Mr Bryce at the present juncture would be nothing short of a colonial disaster. Whatever his personal feelings may be, we feel convinced he will sacrifice them to the claims of his party. If we know anything of public feeling in this district, we should say that the electors of Waikato have been proud of Mr Bryce ever since he has represented them, and that at no time will they have held him in higher esteem than at the present juncture of political affairs.