110 W A cV Jf. H.R. SPITES HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7005, 30 April 1884, Page 5

110 W A cV Jf. H.R. SPITES HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Mr. A. McDonald, M.H.R. for the East Coast district, was a passenger by the mail steamer yesterday. This gentleman's behaviour towards his constituents has been somewhat extraordinary. He said a month or two ago that he was about to proceed to England, and would at once resign his seat; thea ho wm going to England, but would not resign his seat ; theu he was going to do neitheronethingnortheother. We believe that within the last few days he has stated to | friends in Auckland that he would send his j resignation to the Speaker after he got ! on board the steamer. Sir Maurice O'Rorke ■ informed ub last evening that he had not j received Mr. McDonald's resignation, and ! we believe that this document hae not ' been written. It is reported that on board I the steamer Mr. McDonald said that he , was going away without sending in hie ' resignation simply "to spite his con- , stituents," and that he "would see them ; d d first before he would resign." What Mr. McDonald's motive could be for the performance of such vagaries we cannot ! imagine. It is certainly the duty of every j representative to treat his constituents i with courtesy. Whenever Mr. McDonald determined to go to EngUnd, he ought to have informed hie constituents of the fact, and to have sent his resignation to the. Speaker. They were entitled to this, eepeCially on the near approach of the Parliamentary sesaiou. Wo presume that when '■ I'arliainent; meets the House will refuse Mr. I McDonald leave of absence, and declare his j seat vacant.