Discreditable Scene in the House.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 653, 29 August 1891, Page 2

Discreditable Scene in the House.

DAMAGING BLUNDERS. SEVERE STRICTURES ON THE GOVERNMENT. [special to standard J Wellington, last night. Scenes of a most remarkable and anything but creditable character have occurred in the House of Representatives during the last 24 hours, and have led to a vote of censure on Mr Bryce, leader of the Opposition, and his retirement from the Chamber under circumstances that make it doubtful whether he will return to it again. The trouble originated between Mr Richardson, late Minister of Lands, and Mr John McKenzie, the present Minister. Mr McKenzie referred to two runs in Otago, and said that if the secrets of that matter were stated in the House they would not be to the credit of Mr Richardson. The late Minister took objection to this, saying that so far as he was concerned there were no secrets, and Mr McKenzie had better state all he knew. Being forced to be explicit Mr McKenzie said he had been informed that the Hon. Robert Campbell, who has been dead for some years, had told somebody on board a steamer that in respect to two runs in Otago he had "squared it" with the Minister. After being pressed by the Speaker Mr Mokenzie said, '* The only thing I have to withdraw is that Campbell in making the statement was not correct." When the House met yesterday afternoon Mr Richardson moved for a committee, and Mr Mokenzie urged that hie withdrawal of the words should put an end to the whole matter. Mr Mckenzie’a colleagues seeing the difficulty be was in came to the rescue, and Mr Seddon urged that ths words having been withdrawn there should be nothing further said about them. The Speaker ruled that Mt Richardson wae entitled to have a committee. Mr Bryce Baid that the Premier ought to be ashamed of himself for contending that beoanee the words were withdrawn nothing remained, and thereupon he was interrupted before con eluding the sentence. Mr Ballance demanded that the words should be withdrawn, Mr Bryce declined to withdraw, and said he would take the consequences. At this point the Speaker, apparently apprehending a soene which would be discreditable to the House, ordered the galleries to be cleared.

The Premier’s motion that Mr Bryce’s words be taken down was carried as a matter of course. Mr Rees followed with a motion that the House regrets that the words taken down were used by Mr Bryce, though qualified as they were by subsequent words used by the hon. member. Mr Bees' motion wae carried by 38 to 24 Mr Bryce, after making a statement, left the House, saying that it would be a matter for consideration, whether, after such a censure, he would again return. The Speaker's predecessor had stated that he (Mr Bryce) had never been called to order whilst he (Sir G. M. O’Rorke) presided over the House. He was proud of that commendation, and he felt proportionately miserable in having now received the censure of the House, although that censure wae brought about under the scourge of Government whips. Mr Richardson fought to have a committee appointed to investigate the chstgee, but was prevented by " the previous question ” being put. The scene throughout was an extraordinary one. The Speaker, Major Steward, proved himself to be very weak, and is blamed by both sides of the House for the scene that occurred.

The N Z. Times, the Government organ, says We must express regret which will be generally concurred in, that through this unfortunate contretemps there should be the slightest danger of the country losing the services of such a valuable member and trusted ex-minister as Mr Bryce, about whom the House should not have passed a resolution implying censure after the explanatinn he offered. Regarding Mr Richardson we are satisfied, and so will our readers be, that the story, whether uttered or not, is a grave calumny, for no one in the oniony who knows Mr Richardson can in any way doubt his single ness of purpose, and his integrity and uprightness. Unfortunately we must add that had the Speaker, when Hansard was being irregularly quoted, promptly exercised bis authority, the whole melancholy business would have been prevented. The Post feels lost to find language in

which adequately to characterise ths action of Ministers during the last two sittings of the House. The conduct of the Minister of Lands in making a charge of dishonor and corruption against his predecessor, on mere heresay evidence, deserves to be stigmatised in the strongest terms. Mr Bryce has been treated with shameful injustice, and the action of the Ministry is calculated to lower it in the eyes of all honorable men, and shako public confidence in it in many ways. There was no justification for the Speaker's action in clearing the galleries. Yesterday's proceedings were in all respects most regret table. Messrs Richardson and Bryce, however, came out of them unscathed in honnr. The latter gentleman should not allow a censure dictated by the outcome of discreditable patty tactics and vindictiveness to affect him in the least.

It is understood that the Speaker sent two to Mr B r y° e > seeking an interview, but the member for \Yaikato declines to meet him.

Oppositionists say that it is the duty of Major Steward to resign, as he has proved his inability to control the House. The affair is considered very flamaging to the Ministry. Mr Bryce has received numerous telegrams, expressive of warm sympathy with him, and strongly urging him not to resign.