THE BANQUET TO MR JOHN BRYCE

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7963, 10 September 1891, Page 5

THE BANQUET TO MR JOHN BRYCE

FULL TEXT OP THE SPEECHES. [Wellington Evening Press, September 7th.J The Hon. John Bryco, who recently resigned his seat in the House of Representatives under circumstance .which are now noted throughout the colony, was entertained at a farewell banquet by members of the Opposition in the Joint Committee Room of the Parliamentary Buildings on Saturday evening. Sir John Hall was in the chair, and was supported on bis right by the guest of the evening. The members present were;— Messrs Fergus, Mitchelsou, Newman, Rolleston, J. W. Thomson, Swan, Moore, Scobie Mackenzie, Harkneas, 3ucklaud, Rhodes, Russell, T. McKenzie, Mills, Duchie, G. F. Richardson, Valentine, Taipua, and Kapa. Tee following gentlemen, ex-members of the Opposition, were present by invitation :— Messrs Reeae, Baetham, Bruce, Hislop, Allen, Meuteath, and Izard. Apologies were received from Xeaera Wright, Macarthur, and Wilson. TOAST 3. Tho usual loyal and patriotic toatU were honored, that of "The Governor" being proposed by Captain Russell. Sir John Hall—Gentlemen, I now propose to you a toast which, fortunately for mc, will require very little recommendation. (Loud applause). We have met to. night to testify our esteem and regard for our late leader, the Hon. John Bryce— (renewed applause)—and our" sympathy with him in what we believe to be tho unjust and harsh treatment which he has received at the hands of, not the Hoaee of Representatives, but of a majority of that House. (Hear, heari and applause). Wβ wish to protest against that proceeding, and we can do so, I believe, without *ho«ring any want of appreciation of the necessity of Parliamentary discipline— (hear, hear) — because we believe thai an Indignity has been put upon him, not jby the free will of the majority, but by meaiiß of party pressure, and for a party purpose. (Hear, hear: and applause). It may bo weU that 1 should endeavor in a few words to recall the facts of this unfortunate chapter inoui Parliamentary history. I muatdo so briefly, and if I am in any respect iucorrect 01 incomplete, I hope my hon. friend. Mi Bryce, with his retentive memory, will set mc right. The first verse in thU uafortunate chapter was the ehameful attack ou the character of our friend on my lofjt. Sir Richardsou, late Minister of Lands— an attack upon his character and his publlo conduct, which Is cow universally admitted io have been eutirely groundless. (Hear, hear.) When Mr iUcbardson claimed, as it was not only his just right* but 1 think his bounden duty to claim, from Parliament such an investigation as would enable him to clear his character, how was he met? I could not hare believed that he would have been met by the*- Prime Minister with anything but an offer of assistance to secure such an inquiry as would enable the colony to know whethet that grave charge was true Oβ whether ie was false. (Hear, hear.) Unfortuuatoly, eke very opposite course was taken by the Minister. Oar friend actually had various obstacles thrown it his way, mere technicalities, with the vlevt of preventing a free enquiry being instituted. (Hear, hear.) Iβ ie surprising, gentlemen ,that under such circumstances the soul of our guest of to-night should have burned with righteous indignation (Applause.) Is It surprising, oc was It wrong, that under such circumstances Mr Bryce should have made use of strong language. (Renewed applause.) I thlnfc It would have been most strange If he had not done so. (Continued applause.) He complained bitterly of the conduct of the Prime Minister, and said he ought to. Sw ashamed of himself. He was noc allowed to complete his sentence. Incomplete, 1 think the sentence is noc incorrect—(heal , , hear)—but no doubt if he had been allowed to complete it, ie would have been more satisfactory. (Applause.) Before fee could complete his sentence, the Prime Minister jumped up and moved that the words already uttered be taken down. Now, is it not the case that even during the present session, and certainly in the course of previous Parliaments, language such as this, aye, and even more stro&jr, has frequently been used by hon. members ? (Applause.) Mr Scobie Mackenzie—You used too words, I believe, yourself, Sir John. , Sir John Hall—l think it exceedingly likely. Frequently such language has been used, and although I am not prepared to dispute the propriety of the ruling which the Speaker trave that the words were unparliamentary, we should not iorget this fact which I have just mentioned, that they have been frequently used before, and that this is tho first titae they have been ruled out of order. Bow was a similar case dealt with tn the House of Commons? Two occasions have been brought to our notice on whlcs, within the last four years, these same words were used in the Bouse of Commons. Oα those occasions the Speaket ruled them to be unparliamentary. They had not been previously so declared. Bac was it thougut necessary for the Prime Minister at once on the first occasion upon which such words were condemned fa move that the words be taken, down and further measures resorted to? Certainly not. (Applause.) They were ruled to be unparliamentary, und there was an end of it. The member who was called to order did noc persist in using each language, and I cannot doubt that if the Speaker had been allowed to inform our guest of to-nigut that his words were unparliamentary;and must noc be used in future, there would have been an end of the matter. (AS* plaase). But. sir, in New Zealand, wlta a so-called Liberal party in power, under the leadership of a so-called Liberal leader, more stringent measures were though* necessary, ie was ordered that the words be taken down, and the words were taken down: and without Mr Bryce having been afforded an opportunity to give a tall explanation of his meaning and what no Intended to say, he had to leave the Hoosfi. Now, if even then it bad been left to the majority of the House to deal with ttfe matter as they thought right, I c&nnoJ believe things would havo reached the pats which they have done. Or, If the Prlitte Minister, whose precipitancy created tm difficulty—who. In the nrst instance, had not in tho second instance failed to do Kga duty—if he had done wnat the leader (tf the House within myexperlence has alwajfi done—lf hehUneeifhad taken such efcetta as might bethought necessary to maintain the oruer of the House—l cannot believe that tbi* difficulty would have ariaeo. (Loud applause.) But, sir, he entirely lalled in the second Instance to do Mβ duty. He left first to one outsider aod then another the task which prop«fly belong* to the leader of the House, (Benevrea applause.) But although the head of the Government did not propose any resolution condemning Mr Bryce, when is had been proposed by one of hie followers, the Government whips were vet to under the lash, I may say, of the Government whips, amajorlty was Induced Co pas* a vote of censure on our guest of thlß ev*aing. After the censure had been imposed. Mr Bryce returned to the House, ana then was able to give a statement of the full sentence which had been cut short, and an explanation of the sense in which his words had been used. 1 cannot help thinking that when that explanation was heard, and still more now when there baa been time to calmly think over the whole circumstances, there Is hardly one man la the House who does not regret the step* which have been taken. (Applause.) The Speaker himself haa stated that if he had been informed of the complete statemeue of which Mr Bryce had only uttered a part, he would not have thought it a case which called for any Interference. All parties, leay, therefore are now placed Iα a false position by the precipitancy of the Premier In the first instance, by his failure in the second to take up the task which devolved upon him; thirdly, by the strict party character which was given to the vote. We are now kept in that false position by the want of candour and of manliness which prevents the Government, worn acknowledging? that they made a false step —a step which has driven from the Ne«r Zealand Parliament; one of New Zealand c best public servants. <4PP£ttae.> Gentlemen, some friende say

b&ve disregarded a party yots and been' with the almost universal sympathy—so far as I have gathered public opinion—which he has received from the country at Those who say so are no doubt eutitied to their opinion, but every man must be guardian of hie own honor, every man must judp" for himself what is due to his own char-ct'-r and his own reputation. (Applause.) We are not nil equally constituted. The lash of a whip which would not be felt on the thick hide of a cart-horse may be intolerable to a ihin-skinued thoroughbred, and a cen•ure or reproof which would be disregarded by a coarse-minded, coarse-man-nered individual may be unendurable to a sensitive aud high-minded man. (Applause.) Those, gentlemen, I believe, are the simple facts of the case, which I think it desirable on an occasion of this kind should be summarised and put on record. I will only add my belief that the impression has grown, and is growing, that the action which was taken was a party action, that it was improper—l might almost say tyrannical—(applause)— at any rate unjustifiable. (Applause.) Now, I may be allowed to say afcw words upon the past career of the man vvno has been practically driven from the House of Representatives. It has oeen my late to be cognizant of nearly the whole of his public career. I recollect well when I was a member of the Stafford Ministry, Mr Bryce first entering Parliament as member for Wanganui. He came to struggle for the rights of an outlying district which complained that its interests were being sacrificed to the centralising tendencies of the Provincial centre. Mr Bryce at once, by his manly, sensible, moderate and intelligent conduct won regard and j respect from all sides, and took a high position in the then House of Representative. (Applause.) His judgment in | Native affairs was so conspicuous that he j 'was soon appointed Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee, and from that time forward he was looked upon as the Indispensable head of that Committee. <Appwuse.) Before the end of that Parliament serious disturbances broke out on the West Coast of this island. The Titokowaru campaign became a source of serious danger and difficulty, and then in another capacity our friend did excellent service. There are some here who can tell us better than I can what invaluable services were rendered by the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry at that time. How When the rebel Natives had driven the settlers from their homesteads down to nearly the suburbs of Wanganui, tae Volunteer Cavalry, under the leadershipTofour friend, by their activity, their SEsllantry and judgment, helped very Kreatly to turn the tide, to put a successful end to the war, and replace the settlers in their homes. In 1879, when it became my doty to form a Ministry, I esteemed myself fortunate in obtaining the assistance of Mr Bryce as Native Minister. He undertook a most difficult task. Those who are not familiar with the circumstances of tMfr time can form very little idea of the Augean stable which the Native office then constituted, of the squandering and extravagance of which that office was the hotbed. Our friend undertook and carried Wit the Herculean task of thoroughly cleansing the Native Department. Hβ rednced the Native expenditure to a fraction of what it had been; he put an end for ever to the scandals and abuses of which It was the centre; he did immense service to the colony. (Applause.) Before our term of Ministerial office expired, the unfortunate fanaticism of Tβ Whiti and his followers threatened the colony with a great calamity, and threatened the Native race —at any rate in that part of the colony— ■with ruinous disaster. We were fortunate enough to obtain the services of my hon. friend in that time of difficulty, and it was largely owing to tats cool courage, his foresight and judgment, assisted by Mr Rolleston, who Bhared the responsibility of the occasion, that a serious calamity for the colony was averted, and fiom the Native race a war which must have been ruinous for them. The time at last arrived when the changes and chances of political life sent my hon. friend out of office, but it was not long before he found other enemies of the colony to contend with. They were not at this end of the world. He had to traverse 13,000 miles of ocean to expose a slanderer of New Zealand. A conceited shallow individual wrote a book which he called a history. (A Voice—Which nobody ever read.) Well, unfortunately for my piece ot mind I did read it, and my friend on my right read some of it. (Laughter.) The writer who had partaken of our hospitality and enjoyed our confidence, went to England and published cruel calumnies upon New Zealand and her public men, especially Mr Bryce. Our Friend of to-night was not satisfied until he , had crossed the sea at great personal sacrifice and pecuniary risk and placed his case and that of theJNew Zealand settlers before a British jury. It was my fortune to be in Court during the time Mr Bryce gave his evidence, and [ feel convinced that it was largely owing to the clear, straightforward and evidently accurate manner in which that evidence was given that we are indebted for the eminently satisfactory reBait of the trial, a result which cleared the character of New Zealand in the eyes ot the British pnblic. We all know what the result was, but perhaps we do not know, or we do not sufficiently think of fcne risks which our friend ran before such Result could be obtained. Now, lastly, to come down to our own time when, owing to what I may call a temporary aberration of the electoral intellect, men were driven from office who had done excellent work for New Zealand, and were consigned to the cold shades of opposition, when 111-health deprived the colony ef Sir H, Atkinson's services, and when the Opposition had to choose a leader, -there was but one voice as to who that leader should be. You, gentlemen, know as well as I, if not better, how ooeroua was the task which our friend has bad to discharge. It was no easy matter to lead a small band like ours against an Overwhelm ing, and a not very tolerant majority. (Hear, hear.) But you know how, as leader, he has been vigilant, patient, courteous, and painstaking, realising the true functions of an Opposition leader, watching and criticising the conduct of the Government, protesting •gainst, and resisting it when protest was required; and on the other hand, not forKettlng that it is the duty of the Opposition to assist the Minister to carry on her Majesty's Government when he can fairly do so. Gentlemen, I think not only we, but our opponents and the whole country, will bear testimony to the manner in which those duties have been discharged. (Loud applause.) I have trespassed too long upon your time, and last *#ords must be spoken. Our friend, under gainful circumstances, seeks retirement Dom publiclile. lam quite sure he will take 'Wtth him into that retirement an unabated Interest in the welfare of New Zealand, and Iα the fortnnes of the political party which he has so ably led. I am quite certain he will take with him the esteem of all parties for his public and private character. (Loud applause). I am quite certain he will take with him from his own party, not only their esteem, but their warm affectionate attachment and regard. (Cheers). I am quite sure he will take with him our heart-felt sympathy for the wrong which has been done to him. (Cheers). I hope and believe that his leisure will be a very enjoyable one— (applause)—but I cannot hope, and I do fiot think you will hope, that that leisure will be a long one. (Cheers). I cannot believe that the resolution of which we complain will long sully the Journals of the House of Representatives. (Cheers). The day, I believe. Is not distant when New Zealand will again require the serTiees of some of her oest men, when the eyes oC the people will be opened to the folly and the evil consequences of harassing and worrying those interests which tiave so largely conduced to her progress and prosperity, that a turn in the political tide will take place when New Zealand will require some of her oldest and best public men to come again to her service. (Cheers). When that aay shall arrive the sound of the conflict will reach our friend, the thunder of political artillery and the dash of Parliamentary swords will reach his retreat, and will stir in him the spirit of the old war-horse. (Cheers.) He will; ere long find himself again in our ranks, carrying dismay into the ranks of our opponents, and gladness to the hearts of all true friends of New Zealand. (Cheers). My last word shall not be farewell—no we will not cay the word—the word which would express our feeling is the German " auf wiedersehen." I know of no English equivalent It means "To the next seeing of each other." With this sentiment, looking forward to the day on which we shall see each other again In the political arena, I propose the health of our late leader, the Hon. Mr John Bryce. (Loud cheers). Hon. John Bryce-Mt Chairman and Gentlemen,— Nobody can be more conscious than I am that a very great deal of the praise that has fallen from my hon. friend and old leader is due more to the kindness of his own feelings than to any deservings of mine. ("N0. , ! I should like to return you my thanks in something like adequate terms for what has been 'said andeo well listened to, but my voice is »ot very well under my own controL I may say, however, this, Aat Sir John Hall, who presides to-night, is looked upon by

mc in a very apeciaUlght. He it was who wee hit godfather in official life, and he made as he knows very well, and as I have occasion to know, certain certain vows and promises on my behalf. I can only regret that I have not more completely justified those vows and those promises. If I have done so to any extent at all, it is my reward and satisfaction to-night. Gentlemen, if a dead man might by any poetic imagination be supposed to take any interest in his own [uneral, I would say I am glad to-night it is my hon. friend who has had to read the funeral service over mc. He, at any rate, has known bow to do it, because, from the kindness of his heart and ot his feelings towards mc, he has done it by mentioning, as is usual, the good qualities of the dead man, and carefully refraining from describing those that are bad. Speak no evil of the dead. However, I am sure he has found mc in many respects somewhat of a wayward child. I am not sure even that he has not had to suflV.r himself from my wayward humors, but I believe whatever tension existed was more a tension of the nerve than a question of intellect, and at any rate I will say this, there never was one single moment at which I would not have been ready and glad to have borne testimony to the integrity, personal honor, and strong public spirit ot my hon. friend. (Loud applause.) Sir, looking now to the farty which I lately nad the honor to lead, say that man for man in that party, it is as good an Opposition as ever sat in the House of Representatives; and, gentlemen, let mc say this, that I believe that party will still do its duty to the country. (Hear, hear.) It is not because a soldier falls in the ranks his comrades are therefore to show the craven spirit. No, they will do their duty, I am sure, to the country and themselves, and will act witn the energy and ability I know they possess. I should like to thauk you, gentlemen, in something like adequate terms, for the extremely generous manner m which you have supported mc m this unhappy business, ant the extremely handsome manner in which you adhered to mc whilst 1 had the honor of being your leader. I know very well that, some, at any rate, must have regarded my acceptance of that office with some alight degree of apprehension, for it is certain I had a character for - somewhat unreasonable obstinacy—("ho') but I hope you will allow mc to cay that during the period in which we were connected, not very much of that could have been visible. (Laughter and applause.) And, gentlemen, I wish to say—ana partly in reference to a statement which has appeared in a leading newspaper of this colony—l wish to say I recognise in the fullest manner that no party could have been more loyal to its leader than every member of that party was to mc during the time I had the honor to lead it. It would be too much ior mc to say that no leaderwas more loyal to that party—(" No")—but you will give mc the credit, I believe, that I was loyal to the party to the very best of my ability—(cheers)—and that I am loyal to that party still. (Renewed cheers.) It is true, gentlemen, that, in respect of my resignation, a different opinion from my own was expressed by a number of members of the party. That is true, but, as my hon. friend has observed, no man can safely hand over the custody of his honor to other people, whilst he has the intelligence and judgment at his command which God has given him. (Loud applause.) Sir, it was my deliberate judgment that I ought to resign. That judgment may have been wrong—perhaps it was—but, at anyrate, being my judgment, I was bound to act upon it, and do what my honor dictated to mc. (Applause.) I am sure it will require no assurance on my part to tell you chat I have been very unhappy over this matter, that I have felt too surely that, not only did I incur the certain censure of my opponents, but that I ran the risk of incurring the. loss of affection on the part of my friends, because we differ in judgment on that matter. (" No.") That I have not lost that affection I am perfectly confident to-night —(applause)—and it h a great pleasure to mc in my trouble to be so confident. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, even if it can be supposed that I was wrong in my judgment—l do not think I was —but if I was wrong in my judgment, do not suppose for one moment that I have escaped punishment. The suffering which I have gone through, and the distress of mind which it has involved, has been enough, I venture to say, to satisfy the most exacting of my friends and the most vindictive of my opponents. Sir, ie may be weakness in mc to wear mv heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, but at any rate I have the consolation of knowing that there are no daws amongst my friends. (Applause.) My heart from them, at any rate, will be tolerably safe. (Renewed applause and laughter.) Sir, that the mitfjer has been painful to mc is certain etfough. I am an old member of the House. J entered the House in 1885, a quarter of a century ago. I have always done my best—l say it with great confidence — to uphold the honor and dignity of the House. (Loud applause.) It has been a painful thing to mc that at the end of the chapter—at the end of that quarter of a century—the House, on what everyone must acknowledge to be trifling grounds, should have deliberately degraded mc as far as it could. Sir, it is an exceedingly painful thine; to mc, and I have no intention of denying it. If, after that resolution had -.been passed—if after the degradation had been inflicted—the House had shown the least disposition to reciprocate my feelings towards itself, if it had shown any consideration for mc in my distress, I would have gone half way to meet it —what do I say ? Half way to meet it 1 I declare to you I would have gone more than half way, I would have gone the whole way to meet it, and perhaps a dtep beyond. (Loud applause.) It is unfortunate it did nothing of the kind. I am more sorry for it than I can tell you— sorry for the House and sorry for myself. I notice an expression in an article of censure upon myself that appeared in the local press in which, among other things, I was accused of selfishness. Surely such an accusation as that cannot lie against mc. (" No.") Look at tny position. I was a member of the House of Representatives, a thing that a selfish man might be supposed to aim at. I was the leader of a first-class Opposition as far as its numbers go; I had the Premiership of the colony in reversion; a selfish man might endeavor tc retain these advantages, but by no means could it have been the act of a selfish man to abandon them all. (Loud applause.) Sir, whatever reproaches may be made against mc, I think the reproach of selfishness will not lie. (" No," and renewed applause.) Let mc look now, sir, at the circumstances of the case which you have sketched, and I wish, as this has been the only opportunity afforded mc, to put them as plainly as I can. Acting under the provocation described by my hon, friend —acting under very great provocation— although not selfish provocation,but the provocation which was aroused by a gross private aiid public injury to a friend of mine and a member of the House —(applause) —acting under that provocation, I said— and be it marked that I was speaking under interruption from the Premier— (renewed applause)—l said then that the Premier ought to be ashamed of himself for relying upon a technicality. As soon as I got to the word " ashamed," a great clamour, in the shape of exclamations from hon. members, arose, and although I uttered the words as far as " technicality," it is very possible that these latter words would not nave been heard. I wish to point out this—that the concluding words of the sentence after '* technicality," which I wished to speak at that time, could not have been heard, because they were not uttered, and could not have been known to the Speaker, because they were never used until I was sentenced and condemned. (Loud applause). But, sir, I had got as far as the word " technicality, and then what wa? the position of the Speaker in respect to it? He had intimatsd, as I understood him, in faltering phrase, that the words. " he ought to be ashamed ot himself," were unparliamentary, but when he read the additional words, as far as I had uttered them, with which I supplied him up to the word " technicality," he said that qualified the original words—qualified them to such an extent that it left an impression plainly upon my mind, and forcibly upon my mind, that he no longer considered them unparliamentary at all. (Loud applause.) It is true, indeed, sir, that Mr Ballance and Mr Seddon called upon mc to withdraw the words. That is true, sir, bot they had no right to call upon mc. (Renewed applause.) As a point of order, as they know very well, or ought to know, they had no right to address mc directly at aIL It was the Speaker they should have addressed on the point of order, and it was for the Speaker to rale upon the point. (Further applause.) Mr Seddon is in the habit of usurping the functions of the Speaker. (Hear, hear.) It is matter of almost daily occurrence. (Hear, hear.) But who shall say I was bound to regard those usurped functions ? (Certainly not! and applause.) I wa* not bound, and I did not regar<l them—(Applause)—and when he called upon mc in direct terms, and Mr Ballance also, to withdraw , my words, I said at once I would not withdraw them, and I would take the consequences. (Renewed applause.) The consequences were not obscure to my mind. I knew very well all majorities in the House could expel their opponents man by man, or mate the position , - of their ■ opponents so disagreeable that they

would expel themselves. I knew very ' well no other majority that ever was in j this colony before would have thought of exercMne euch * power — (ApJlauseAbut I had felt unable to give the present majority credit for any such forbearance — (Renewed appiause)—and when Isaid I wonld take the consequences, I knew very well that they could, and not unlikely would, expel mc from the House. Those were the consequences I refer to, and I would take them again rather than give obedience to Mr Seddon or Mr Ballance when usurping the functionsof theSpeaker and calling upon mc for the withdrawal of words which the Speaker himself, as was evident to mc, did not himself believe to be unparliamentary. (Cheers). And, gentlemen, up to the time I left the House I had not offered a word of explanation. (Applause). I had assisted in getting down the words correctly—they thought to refuse mc that privilege—and the Government would have refused even that privilege ii they could, but the words which I had spoken —and which I gave my honor two minutes after 1 used them that I had spoken—were ultimately taken down, although the Government would rather have disputed my word. (Hear, hear.) And when these words were completed, the sentence as far as I had uttered it, as far as I had uttered the sentence in these completed words—l say the Speaker left the impression clearly" upon my mind and upon the mind of everyone who wa3 listening, that the words as qualified by my additional words were not unparliamentary —(ilear, hear, applause)—and if they were unparliamentary, in so slight a sense they were, that he would not have felt called upon to notice them. (Loud applause.) And that was the particular moment at which I left the House, iv what was Jsupposed to be obedience to the Standing .Orders. As to the words themselves, I have given every attention, as may be supposed, to the positiou of the circumstances of the case, and I say that — having heard everything that can be said, having heard all that the Speaker has to say, to the best of my knowledge and belief, those words, those bold words, that the Premier onght to be ashamed of himself, are not regarded as unparliamentary in England. (Loud applause.) It is true, indeed, that Mr Speaker Steward quotes two cases in which Mr Speaker Peel, a very able man and good Speaker, called them unparliamentary. -Mr Scobib Mackenzie—Not the same words.

The Hon. John Bryce—Substantially the same. I do not want to split straws for one moment. The words are substantially the same, but the words were used in both cases in connection with the question asked in the House of Commons which could not be debated. A question was put and answered upon which no debate could arise, and when his attention was called to the words it was particularly directed to them because a debate could not arise. I believe that when these words are used in an argumentative manner they were Parliamentary then and are Parliamentary now. (Applause.) It is true in the second case, which was also a question asked and answered, that Mr Speaker Peel said in future he would notice them. They had been used, he said, to such an extent that he would have to notice them as unparliamentary in future. Why, of course, the Speaker was right. (Applause.) Any ■words may become unparliamentary according to the way in which they are used. applause.) Even the ordinary words " hear, hear," may be used in such a way as to become disorderly and to be called to order by the Speaker. (Continued applause.) But let mc refer you to this particular circumstance—and it is a remarkable and curious circumstance —that although Mr Speaker Peel on that occasion declared that iv future he wouldnotice the words as unparliamentary he has never done so. (Loud applause.) From that time to this the words have been allowed to pass, have been used scores of times, hundreds of times, and perhaps thousands, and have apparently never since been noticed. (Renewed applause.) And I say in my belief, when these words are used in an argumentative manner, and not as a matter of disorder, they will never be noticed. (Renewed applause.) I believe they are perfectly Parliamentary words, and are so regarded at the present moment In England. (Further applause.) Well, it has been remarked by my hon. friend they have never been called unparliamentary in New Zealand before, except perhaps on one occasion. I ought to remind you, by the way, that when Mr Speaker Peel declared these words in that limited sense to be unparliamentary he did not think them serious enough to ask for their withdrawal. Is is said, and I believe alleged by the Speaker, in the case of Mr Macdonaldf one of the members for Wellington, that he was called to order for using the same expression a3 I did, the Speaker remarking that the words were unparliamentary and ought to be withdrawn. I am not quite sure I am referring to the exact circumstances, but 1 think I am, and this is what I remember Mr Macdonald to have said—" If you consider, sir, they are unparliamentary, I will withdraw them, but I can only express my regret that the Eaglish language is bo poor that I cannot find any other words to express my meaning." If Mr Speaker Steward calls that a withdrawal, I I say it i 3 not. (Loud applause.) It was a re-assertion of the words, and a re-asser-tion in the worst possible form, because it played with and evaded the ruling of the Speaker. (" Hear, hear," and continued applause.) It comes, then, to this, for the first time in the history of the country those words, as used by mc, were suddenly taken objection to. When qualified by the succeeding words which I had used, the Speaker himself did noc appear to regard them as unparliamentary ; but at that stage Mr Ballance, the Prime Minister, intervened, and he moved, as he had a right to move, that the words be taken down. Of course he bad a right to move that. He might move that any words be taken down, however harmless. Hβ exercised thac privilege, and then he appeared to hesitate as to what he should do. I recall the fact again to you that up to the time thac I left the House, I left the . House without having been called upon by the Speaker to withdraw the words—(applause)—without having been called upon by the Speaker to explain the words—(renewed applause)—and I left it under the complete impression that the Speaker himself believed my completed words to be in parliamentary form, or it transgressing at all to be transgressing so slightly as not to require notice. (Loud and continued applause). I have said that the Speaker did not think the words unparliamentary, or very slightly so, and chat he did not ask mc to withdraw or explain; I left, in fact, without having been in conflict with the Speaker at all. But, gentlemen, if the words were proper why should he have asked mc to withdraw or explain ? (Applause.) There was nothing to explain, and therefore it was upon my mind that the Speaker, believing these words to be not unparliamentary, at any rate in a strong sense, saw no excuse for asking mc to withdraw or explain them. It is true that Mr Steward has since said, as I understand from the newspapers, that he was thinking of asking mc to withdraw them, but he foresaw a refusal. I know nothing about that, but I know he did say that my subsequent words qualified the former words, and he doubted whether they were unparliamentary at all. (Applause.) I know as a matter of fact he 1 did not ask mc to explain, he did not ask mc to withdraw—(renewed applause) —up to the time I had to leave the House. I know also that in my absence I was tried and condemned, and only re-called to receive sentence. (Lend and continued applause.) Well, gentlemen, I say I left the House at that stage—and 1 want to repeat it, because I want to make it particularly plain—l left the House at that stage feeling convinced that the Speaker did not believe that my words, as qualified by the subsequent few words up to "technicality" to be unparliamentary. I left, knowing as a matter of fact, I had not been asked by the Speaker to withdraw them, and I left knowing that I had cot been asked for an explanation. (Applause.) I know as a matter of fact, although I had assisted in getting the correct words down, I did not use one word of explanation. (Renewed applaase). I came back, as I said, to find myself tried and condemned. Now, there is one curious thing chat will occur to everybody—if that was the Speaker's opinion that the words used were, if unparliamentary at all, so slight as not to require notice, how came he to allow a resolution like this to pass without making emphatic protest against its impropriety? (Applause.) Thai is a most perplexing question—(renewed apSlause) —and I must admit I do not know ow to explain it or to account for his conduct, except indeed that he may have been under a peculiar psychological condition of mind of which I have little or no knowledge. Ifree Mr Steward, as I feel bound to free him, from any deliberate intention of doing mc injury. I wish, indeed, thac I could say as much for the Government. (Loud applause.) I cannot, I cannot. (Renewed applause.) Sir, they sprung to the charge. (Continued applause.) They found that I did something that sounded something like a breach of order, although never challenged before ia New Zealand. (Further loud applaase.) Immediately a motion was made that the words be taken down, and they were taken down*, and thU has been

the result. I can easUy «g«f«* that public motives on the part of Mr Ballance and the Governme ntMr Ballance as -pggjgkSH S he ment—l can easily an oersww»* may have considered »* t d «SSk ha a t Tα to he considered public I ! say, the interests of nls W*. * should be degraded or removed ™n mc House. Sir. it looked as it ne naa it in his mind to move that the words be taken down, » D A_ th j2 le Sut ta*en down, and he ov **» Jjjgg ™ endeavored to prevent my words being added to them. TnenwnM did he do? He accepted a m °^ o " pr ° f posed by a member ofhis the last men in the. House £ h °£tf a a X ment on such a subject he should have accented—(aDDlause)—and he whipped up ™$£ti£m fate of *ta «jam» t,o fi strained the allegiance of h ™ order to get that motion carried, oir, waV there no desiga there? (Loud applause) Mr Ballance is an old acquaintance of mine, and he knows mc well, and he fe?t, therefore, in his own mind 1 am convinced, if he oould carry that motion, it would have the effect of expelling mc from the House. He struggled to the utmost to have it earned, and he succeeded. I do not give the Government, as i give Mr Steward, the credit of acting unconsciously in this matter. lv. my opinion, it was conscious design— , (upplauss)—and a design which would be 1 unworthy of the poorest Government that ever existed or ever will exist. 1 here is no doubt that Mr Ballance, typifying the Government, temporised and negotiated with my friends—no doubt at all about that. He felt his position wa3 bad with the public, and although he was fully determined that I should not be allowed to recede from my position—fully determined that I should retire from Parliament—he was willing to lead my friends on to lead mc from one humiliation to'another humiliation, and to compel mc to resizn at last in sheer despair. Sir I would not have it (loud appiause) —and it was noc a likely programme to be put into effect whilst I had the power of stopping it at any stage. (Renewed applause). If I have beenjhumiliated, the humiliation is not in any degree of my own making. (Applause), it is a humiliation over wnicli 1 have no control myself. If 1 bad gone before him and humbled myself, and afterwards been compelled to resign, I should have felc then I should nave ceased to be a member of the House, but I should have felt I deserved my vote of censure, a feeling which I have not now. (Loud applause). Mr Ballance and,l presume, the Government with him, are noc free from human vauity, and had his programme been carried out, he not only perhaps ' would have succcceded in placing himself better with the public by this manoeuvring of his, but I snppose ha would have fed his vanity by seeing mc grovelling at his feet. Ir, was not likely his vanity would be fed by mc in any such way. (Cneers.) I hope I do Mr Ballance and the Government no wrong ; I should be sorry indeed to do him any wrong in my thoughts, but what else am I to suppose? His actions were evidently designed and strongly carried oat to the bitter end ; can I believe otherwise? The Government had to exert ics power to the utniosC to reach that bitter end, but a single nod from the Premier would have undone the evil; he pretended every desire to make things pleasant again, but what did he do ? There were half-a-dozen courses open, and honorable courses, that might have been taken by a generous man, and he took none of them. Am Ito suppose his professions are correct, that he desired to be generous, when the fact stares us in the face that he took none of them, and persisted in the resolution, knowing well that the resolution would expel mc from Parliament £ I declare to you before God and man my full belief tnat I believe I have been treated unjustly in this matter—(loud applause)— and that the procedure which has been taken reflects neither dignity nor honor npoa the House. (Continued applause.) I caanoG help thinking ic. I am sorry to say that, because I have esteemed the House of Representatives, and I have considered 1C a credit to belong to it; to the best of my ability I have striven to support its dignity and its interests; I have devoted the best years of my life to the purpose, and this is the end for mc. And I should be more than human if, after what has passed, I could possibly view the House of Representatives in the same manner in the future as I have viewed it in the past. (Applause.) Ie is impossible. I am exceedingly sorry for it, but it is another idol of mine shattered. Life, I am afraid is made up of such experiences. And I say this, that X look upon the manner in which I was treated by the House —I will not qualify it, as has been done,; ,by calling 4t a majority of the House of Representatives—and Isay that I look upon that as having been so unjust that I do fully believe that the strong protest I have made—the strongest protest in my power —has been altogether too weak to express my sense of the injustice that has been done mc. (Loud applause.) I regret it exceedingly. Now, gentlemen, let mc for one moment, and in couclusion, try and lift myself for one moment above these temporary troubles of my own, and try to lift myself above party. I would enjoin upon you as a party to use your energies and your devotions in the interests of the country, and not in a narrow sense. Treat the claims of every class in the community with the utmost consideration and the utmost justice, treat the weak with generosity, the strong with courage, and so you will be doing your duty to the country, to your constituents, and to yourselves. (Applause.) I go back now, as you suggest, to my home—as 1 have said, not alas 1 with the same feeling as regards the House of Representatives as 1 hitherto had; but although I have changed my mind in that respect, I have not ceased to remember I am a New Zealand colonist. (Cheers.) And, gentlemen, I ask you to remember that you too as New Zealand colonists, have high trusts committed to you. I entreat you to do your duty as a matter of conscience, do it fairly to all men and to all classes in the broadest possible spirit, and the colony will reap the fruit of your endeavours, and you will have your reward. (Cheers.) I wish I could have been able to have replied in more adequate terms to the extremely kind expressions which my hon. friend has used.' It would be too trying for mc to attempt it, and I know very well you will believe mc when I simply say I thank you. (Cheers.)

Mr Hislop said that he had not expected to be called upon to speak, and therefore he had difficulty in adequately expressing himself after listening to the account of the painful circumstances which they had just heard detailed, and which had brought them together that evening. On such an occasion as this he could fnot help recalling the different Eosition of parties which existed when c first knew Mr Bryce, and comparing the present with past methods of political rule. In 1875, when the great question which divided politicians in the country was that of Provincialism against one Government, and before he (the speaker) entered Parliament 'knew Mr Bryce personally, he was struck by the clear, logical, and intellectual speeches which he delivered on the subject. Though, being a Prcrvincialist, he was opposed to Mr Bryce'B views, he formed a high opinion of hie powers and was prepared to find in him a gentleman worthy of being a leader of the people. On becoming personally acquainted with Mr Bryce during his first session (in 1876) his expectations were more than realised, and daring his subsequent years in Parliament, whether he wan opposed to him or not, his respect for his character and ability went on increasing, and at the present moment it was higher than ever. The toast he had to propose was that of the Opposition. He I unhesitatingly asserted that they ought have the sympathy of all prudent and liberty-loving colonists. Personally, he sympathised with the party in their attempt to prevent, and wheu they failed in this, Iα their struggles to mitigate, the uncalled for. unjust, and disturbing interference br the present dominant party with the finances and business of the colony— an interference which already had had its effects in curbing enterprise and therefore the labor employing capacity of the colony. The sympathy, however, of every colonist who has had inbred in him, or has by his training and surroundings bad instilled in him, the desire for equal rights to alUmust be principally evoked on behalf of the Opposition in their protests against the conduct of the pseudo Liberal Government, who seemed to him to trample under foot the best traditions of Liberalism. The conduct of M'nisters forcibly reminded him of an incident which occurred at an agricultural show in his former constituency. He and two friends were on one occasion walking round the grounds when they came to a notice asking visitors not to pass in front of the stand. They imiae- ; diately stopped and were walking round by a permitted.path when a gentleman— then a representative, bat now a Minister —came up, looked at the notice, but disregarding it, walked leisurely in front of the stand. One of his friends asked, " What ! does that fellow mean ?' The other friend j said, " Oh, that is a New Zealand Liberal; i that is, New Zealand Liberalism." Well, ! It seemed to him that this sort of conduct had become New Zealand Liberalism, if ; the present Government were the embodiment of it. Their own wishes alone regu-

lated their conduct, and they arrogated to themselves special privileges and tgnGOQnities. While it was lawful for t&* dominant party to characterise members' conduct as disgraceful and shameful and • themselves as ignoble, contemptible and discreditable, the leader of the Opposition was not permitted to use the language by which he inadequately characterised the Premier's subterfuge for preventing an inquiry, the result of which would have been to vindicate his frieud Mr Richardson and to prove that the Minister of Lands had uttered an unworthy slander. He (Mr Hislop) had never had any fear out that when the prejudice and passions which had been raised by false prophets calling themselves the friends of the people had been subdued and their shams had been exposed the country would recognise that true Liberalism as well as prudence were represented by the Opposition. This change of view was now I rapidly taking place, and he believed a j majority of the public now recognised that the Opposition had been struggling not only to prevent disaster to our finance* but also to do what is more important, to preserve the fundamentals of true political life. A great loss had fallen upon the party through the temporary withdrawal of its leader, but his successor, whoever he might be, would be encouraged by the conviction that they would before long find approval from the people at large. He would couple with the toast the name of one who had been the parent of reforms, especially in the land laws, the credit for which the present dominant party endeavored to filch from him, and who in his political and private conduct was always actuated by high principle—he meant Mr Bolle°ton, Mr Kollkston—Our minds and hearts are so full of what has just fallen from our guest this evening, and of the feelings which we entertain towards him, that you will excuse my making any lengthy reply to the toast which has just been proposed by Mr Hislop. The predominant feeling in our minds is a sense of recent loss, in the presence of which we are disinclined to discuss political questions. (Applause.) I should not, however, be doing justice to the party to which I am proud to belong if I did not endeavor, in a few words, to express the satisfaction which it has given us to be able to gather once more round our leader, and to listen to the very able speech he has made. (Applause.) Tonight, indeed, we realise to the full what it has been to belong to a party properly organised, Under a leader respected by every one of his followers. (Applause.) We realise the position which we nope to hold in promoting the good government of the country—as critics and censors of the administration aud the legislative body. I have no sympathy with those who would have us believe that party government is responsible for all the evils under which we suffer. Our troubles arise, not from party government, but from not giving fair play to our existing institutions. (Applause.) I have ever been a strong party man, and 1 believe party organisation to be of the very essence of efficient Parliamentary government. It has been well said that government without party Is absolutism, and that rulers without opposition may be despots. (Applause.) I think the experience of this session goes far to show the truth of the last proposition. Never in the history of the country has there Tieen such a determined attempt as that of the present Government uuder Mr Ballance to ride rough-shod over the representatives of the people in Parliament. (Applause.) Never has an Opposition had to fight against such fearful odds in support of their rights and liberties. lam glad to think that, few as we are in numbers, we have been able to make ourselves felt in the cause of order and good government. It is only by party that we can hope to maintain the conduct of great principles by which freedom is secured. It is out of party organisation that generous friendships arise, such as those which exist anions members of the party here present, and between all of us and our leader, Mr Bryce. Coming back as I have, after an interval of four years, to political life, I cannot describe the pleasure it has been to mc to mix again in the society of men who are personal friends —men with the " idem velle" and the "idem nolle," working together for a common object, and that object the highest that men can be associated to promote. It is by party tine the great qualities of loyalty and fidelity are fostered and strengthened. It is by this that a spirit of self-abnegation and selfsacrifice ia cultivated and grows. Oα the present occasion we celebrate the chivalrous conduct of one " Who never sold the troth to serve the hoar, Nor paltered with Eternal God for power.' "A still strong man" holding his own self respect and. the respect of the wnole colony—firm in the belief that no good can ever come of compromise with evil and wrong-doing. (Applause.) Ido not wish to go through the details of the matter— they are very painful, and have been stated completely and accurately by Sir John Hall and Mr Bryce—but I may say I have come firmly to the conviction that the action of Mr Bryce has been that of an honorable man—(Applause)— and the only course which a man of his character could take to enter the strongest protest against injustice and wrong. We have every reason to feel proud of the action he has taken. (Applause.) His name will be a watchword throughout the country, and will be a guarantee that the party is & party that respects honor, that respects chivalry, that respects honesty. (Applause.) He is a gentleman that has been true to himself, and as we know, a man that is true to himself cannot be false to anyone. (Applause.) He has been true to himself, true to his principles, true to his party, and has thereby been true to the best interests of the country. (Applause.) Gentlemen, we have felt in the past that we have been fighting against great odds as a party under his leadership. Waat may be the future I do not know, but,l am satisfied of this, this meeting to-night will tend to make this party feel that they have a great example to live up to, and they will do it. Let us as a party not feel discouraged; let us, as a party, feel that we have had that faith in tiie past which will influence us in the future, and we shall, no doubt, rise from the beginning that we have made under circumstances of great difficulty, under the leadership of Mr Bryce, to, I hope, a better future, full of benefit to the colony. (Applause). I have in the past attended the funerals of those I have loved and regarded, and I have often gone back home, thanking God that they left this life in His faith and fear, and with a feeling of gladness that they have gone with untarnished Dame and fame. This is my feeling to-night in respect to our friend. He is gone, but we hope to meet again and fight together again at no distant period. (Applause). Whoever*may be our leader, I ihall be proud to follow him. if he will only follow Iα the footsteps of him who has been oar leader in the past (Cheers).

Mr Scobie Mackenzie said—The toaet which has been allotted to mc is that of the ex-niember* of the party; and Iα rising to propose it I need not dwell on the fact that we are very glad to see so many of themamongus to-night, though we could well wish that we had met together on a happier occasion. I dare say the thought passing in their minds is the same as that which Iβ passing in mine— namely, that their lot in being outside the House is better than oars, since they have escaped witnessing a scene which is not only a politically bad and distressing one in itself, bat which has been from • , to , laß t an outrage on the very spirit of manliness and generosity. Ihey have been saved that scene —all connection with It, and all responsibility for it. And that brings mc to the question—on whom does the responsibility for Mr Bryce'e expulsion from Parliament—for that is what it 35!u a ?u e n°"" feetf *"*»wUj. it rests with the Government, but I greatly regret eL"t y * t l *!** """on* to due to the Speaker. I do not propose to make an attack on the Government, for that can be better reserved for the House, but will C ? n ! ne myielf to —rfa* te »* ta* spectacle of the Government — especially Messrs Ballance.Seddon, and Beeves-pressing forward with gluttonous eagerness to heap humiliation and disgrace upon a high-minded, generous foe. was snrely the most ignoble ever witnessed in any Legislature. I can imagine persona committng themselves to conduct of the kind while under the influence of violent political or other pasaion,:but it is a deplorable thing to see the conduct sustained after the passion has subsided. Aβ for the Speaker, l would care little tor errors of judgment, for these are common to oil. But I have no hesitation In saying that in connection with the closing scene of Mr Bryce'e resignation, the Speaker lost the opportunity of bis life, Ictepretty well known to us that there were very serious irregularities committed throughout the condemnation of Mr Bryce. To some of them Mr Brjce himself has alluded. But one was so serious that I cannot avoid mentioning it. and my authority for it is the Speaker himself. He declared from the chair that he was bound to take the sense of the House as to whether the offending words should be taken down, and that* single dissentient voice would have prevented it, in which case it would then have

Ssarias t fir «s error bat it was after committing it that heTast his great opportunity. It was when which culminated in Mr Btyc.*. coademnation was so irregular that I should suegest the propriety of rescinding the VttiF A word from him would haye done it, and that word, unhappily, was not spoken. For any error, for mere intellectual failure I do not blame him; the hour ot trial requires high qualities of those in high places. Then the Speaker, who had the sole right to do so, never asked Mr Bryce to withdraw the words, and excused himself for the omission by sayiu* that he did not ask him because ho anticipated refusal. Let Q . hope the defence was a mere afterthought. Fancy a Judge neglecting to ask even the vilest of criminals if he had anything to say why the penalty of the law should not be imposed on him, because he anticipated a refusal 1 Ido not care to dwell any longer ou the unhappy business, and will, with permission, say a word about myself. A paragraph was pointed out to mc in the L,ytteu<m Times, to the effect that Mr Bryce was glad to resign, owing to the trouble he had with his party, chief among the malcontents being myself. (Laughter.) Perhaps I should not notice the statement, for you all know how ridiculous it is. After all, it was but the poisonous emanation of a private enemy, and a not very scrupulous one. But in case there may be someone in the colony disposed to believe it, I shall only say that there was never froai first to la<t even the shadow of foundation to it. I have been among the warmest, perhaps the warmest, personal friend Mr Bryco had-(Mr BRYCE-Hear, hear)—and you all know that I have been the most docile, careless and easygoing of followers. Now a word in conclusion about our guest himself. I do not know whether my friend has done right or wrong in resigning his seat. I have been inclined to thiu'c he was wronjr, but my opiniou has been somewhat modified by what he has said to-night. But tho truth of what Mr Rolleston has well said must be admitted. Mr Bryce \\i% been true to himself, true to his own lofty instincts, true to his past career. No man better illustrates the advice of Polonius — " To thine own self be true. And it ahull follow i-e the night the day, Tnou caust not then be false to any man." Mr Bryce never has been, never could be, false to anyone. Loyalty is part of his nature. Let us hope, as I believe, that his mantle will fall upon his successor, the mantle of truth, loyalty, and high purpose, and that the whole party will protlt oy the example he has shown. It only remaius for mc to propose the toast of the l&te members of the party, coupled with the name of n.y good and loyal friend, Mr Bruce. Mr Bruce, in reply, thanked his old comrades for the generous man tier in which the toast had beeu received. Hβ expressed grief and indignation at the event which had caused their meeting and the circumstances which had led up to it. There were many in the colony who felt some degree of alarm at the whole situation in view of recent events, but he took no pessimistic view. He regarded the upheaval, of which this Government and its legislation was the result, as an episode in our national life, merely something calculated to casually deflect the course of its current. He eulogised Mr Bryce and on behalf of the bonaflde colonists thanked the Opposition for their gallant defence of the principles of true Liberalism. "Our worthy Chairman" was proposed by »r J. W. Thomson, and suitably re> eponded to.