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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 173, 24 July 1888, Page 2

TOMFOOLERY IN THE HOUSE. “ A laughable scene occurred in the House during Thursday night’s stonewalling. Attention having been called to the state of the House, with a view to a “count out,” Dr Fitchett was trying to make himself scarce, when he was met at the end of the gangway by the burly figure of Mr John M'Kenzie. That gentleman seized the learned member for Dunedin Central, and pulled him back into the House, where the pair stood, their sides fairly shaking with laughter, until Dr Fitchett had been counted amongst those present, after which he was released. The incident caused much amusement to those present, and the bon the Speaker, though not taking direct cognizance of the aet of personal violence, was heard to call the attention of the Sergeant-at-Arms to the noise which was being made in the lobbies.” This is how the scene is described by a Wellington journal; we should call it a disgraceful scene, the parties to which ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. What are our Government institutions drifting into when these larrikin tricks are permitted on the floor of the House ? The time of the House is frittered away in a most silly manner, while urgently needed legislation is shambled off until it may either be rushed through at the last moment or be indefinitely shelved: the country is in a condition more alarming than it baa ever been before, and yet this pack of overgrown larrikins are amused and delighted by an incident which was not only silly, but degrading to our Parliamentary institutions. When will this tomfoolery cease ?