SIR GEORGE GREY’S PRANK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 472, 26 June 1890, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY’S PRANK.

The first division during the present session of Parliament resulted just as was anticipated, excepting perhaps that the decision was less favorable to the Government than those who had any touch of the pulse of members thought it would be. A few members of course voted for the amendment because they believed it was right on principle. As an indication of the way in which the amendment was regarded by the Opposition, the following extract from the leading Opposition journal is sufficient It was not with any hope that his amendment would be put, much less carried, that be brought it forward. He apparently wanted to spoil the game of the leader ot the Opposition, whom he likes worse even than he does the Premier. To steal a march upon Mr Ballance was a piece of mischief in which the old Knight’s heart rejoiced. If by any means he could have discounted or discredited a legitimate party motion on the subject of dissolution, it would have been delightful. These pranks are, however, rather out of place in a Legislature where party Government obtains. Indulgence in them makes confusion worse confounded. Of course, technically every member has a perfect right to act on his own responsibility, but in a well-regulated House there is an unwritten law that grave party contests shall be conducted by the recognised leaders of the contesting parties. Sir George Grey is not such a leader. He forms a party of one. According to no Parliamentary etiquette or precedent was Sir George yesterday entitled to assume the position he did in challenging the Government. If he renews the challenge the Government will be quite justified in ignoring it, and refusing to treat seriously any proposal of this kind emanating from him, and the Opposition would act wise!}’ in supporting them in assuming such an attitude.”