THE PERMISSIVE BILL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 39, 21 October 1871, Page 9

THE PERMISSIVE BILL.

[lndependent, October 19.] The disgraceful attacks so frequently repeated by the lowest class of Opposition journals against the Premier for his earnest advocacy of the Permissive Bill received a most triumphant answer last night, in the enthusiastic cheering which greeted him from all parts of the House at the conclusion of his able and eloquent speech, in support of the second reading. But there was a still more emphatic testimony given to his zeal and ability in the cause of politico-social reforms by the barriers of party breaking down before liis eloquent appeals, and Opposition speakers rising one after another to express the deep sense of gratitude the House and the country felt for his earnest advocacy of a measure of great social importance, which has brought down upon him much undeserved obloquy from a section of the Press of New Zealand, and many unkindly criticisms from the unthinking and the ungenerous, who take for granted that so much earnestness and enthusiasm are an unmistakable indication of mental imbecility. A still higher, indeed an astonishing testimony to Ins power as a political and social reformer, was given by the fact—we believe, altogether unprecedented in the annals of legislation —that his Permissive Bill was read a second time without a dissentient voice.

We venture to predict that the Hansard of this session will not contain two speeches which will more stir “the great heart” of the country than Mr Fox’s speeches on the Education and the Licensing Bills. If anyone labors under the erroneous and uncharitable conception which such journals as the “ Nelson Examiner” have industriously tried to spread, that Mr Fox is, by their “ new and easy method’ ’of logic, vulgarly called nicknaming, a, mere Chadband —that he has lost any of his power to refute fallacies by close logical argument, or that his mental vigor is in any way impaired, let him sit down carefully to read these two speeches, and try to refute the arguments they contain. In particular, let him prove his own fancied superiority by giving an answer to the numerous and varied arguments in the speech of last night. We do not intend at present to discuss them. We only desire to draw attention once for all to the ungenerous character of the remarks that have been made against him for snatching brief intervals from his other and more pressing engagements to advocate what Parliament has now, and chiefly through his able advocacy, endorsed as a great social reform. While we desire to record our emphatic condemnation of the bitter party spirit which, as in this instance, leads to an ungenerous construction being put on all the sayings and doings of a political opponent, we desire at the same time to congratulate the colony on the fact that the Assembly by its acclamation last night, no less than by the marked approval it gave to Mr Creighton—himself a keen political opponent —for returning the thanks of the House to Mr Fox for his services in the causo of social reform,- gave an unmistakable expression that it utterly repudiates and abhors all such ungenerous, unmanly, and unwarrantable criticism.

The news when telegraphed to-day will excite a pleasing surprise in all parts of the colony. Whatever may be the ultimate fate of the bill, its passing the second reading without a dissentient voice marks a great advance in public sentiment, which augurs well for the future of the country. It is due to Mr Creighton to acknowledge the eminent ability he displayed in advocating this measure, and the chivalrous manner in which he spoke of the superior claims of Mr Fox to the grateful regard of the colony, in connection with the measure he had himself introduced. Mr Fox would not be outdone in generosity, and the mutual compliments of these two political opponents reflected credit on themselves, and honor on the Assembly. If we have more particularly dwelt upon Mr Fox’s exertions in drawing the bill and eloquently supporting it, it is from no desire to disparage Mr Creighton’s able services, and we are sure the lion, gentleman will be the last to take any umbrage.jjj