GEMS FROM THE SYDNEY PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4146, 4 July 1874, Page 5

GEMS FROM THE SYDNEY PARLIAMENT.

In the debate in the Legislative Asssembly of New South Wales, on the proposed release of Gardiner, on the 18th inst., some lively scenes occurred. The following passages from the Sydney Morning Herald will give an idea of the nature of the proceedings : Mr. Parkes said that a course had been taken during this discussion wliich had been very frequently indulged in by gentlemen who always deprecated it when indulged in by others —that was, of talking about appealing to the country. He was as well prepared to appeal to his constituents or to the electorates of the entire Colony as any man in the House. He did not fear the result of an appeal. (Cheers.) He did not believe that this most unwise and intemperate attempt to get up an excitement in the country had the sanction of the people of the country. The hon. and gallant member for Camden talked with a disposition and tone, and a feeling and an invention of motive which reminded him more of the criminal character than anything he had seen in his life. (Cheers from the Government benches.) Why, the hon. member invented motives as against other men which could only spring from a criminal disposition. He said, before the world, that nothing was greater evidence of a criminal nature than the invention of criminal motives for other men’s actions. (Hear, hear.) And when that was done without the support of fact or argument, or plausible reason, the conclusion was irresistible that nothing but a low and mean nature could strike—

Mr. J. S. Smith.—l move that the words be taken down. I want to know whether “low and mean nature” were Parliamentary ? The words taken down and read by the clerk were “a low and mean nature.”

Mr. J. S. Smith. —As applied to tho hon. member for Camden.

Mr. Parkes.—l was not speaking of the hon. member for Camden. My words then were applied to a general case. Mr. Hurley (C.C.) —I understood the hon. Colonial Secretary to make reference to some club-letter affair, and to denounce that as low and mean.

Mr. Cunneen.—Clubocracy. Mr. J. S. Smith moved, That tho words used in reference to tho hon. member for Camden are unparliamentary, and ought to be withdrawn, and an apology offered to the House. _ Mr. Parkes supposed he had now the privilege of stating what he did say. He had made some allusions to the hon. member for Camden, which he had concluded; and he had then commenced to speak on a different subject altogether, using the words mentioned, but not in allusion to the hon. member for Camden ; but it was this—that when he found such things in any one, it was to him an evidence of a low and mean nature. He had then left the hon. member for Camden, and had applied the words to any one who chose to act in a particular manner, Mr. Speaker.- —My recollection of tho words used by the hon. Colonial Secretary is, that they were, “ I think this disposition to attribute improper motives is evidence of a mean and low nature.”

Captain Onslow said it was quite immaterial to him what the Colonial Secretary said of him. Nothing that came from tho hon. gentlemen could affect him in anyway. Ho could not be affected by anything that came rom a man who had deceived his colleagues nd swindled his creditors. Should there be uch a man—

Mr. Speaker.—l think language of this kind ought not to bo used. Captain Onslow. —A mean and low nature ! (The hon. member made some further remarks in too low a tone to be heard in tho gallery, andfthen sat down.) Mr. J. S. Smith believed that tho words were applied to the hon. member for Camden, and he did not care one iota for the disclaimer of the hon. member at the head of tho Government, because if that hon. member made a statement, and any other individual made a statement to the contrary, he would believe the other individual’s statement.

Mr. Garrett thought these words used to any individual member, or to any number of members collectively, were unparliamentary, and he had often heard tho Speaker check hon. members for using language of this kind—as he had just done his hon. colleague tho member for Camden, when ho was using words no stronger than these. Ho was sure that tho hon. member who used those words must have known that they were unparliamentary, and if he had not lost his balance ho would not have used them.

Mr. Lloyd.—Gardiner’s showman 1 Wo had that an hour or so ago. Mr. Garrett had only suggested a good use to put this man to, and a good person to show him. He did not know that those words were unparliamentary, but tho words used by tho Colonial Secretary wore offensive, and it was unparliamentary to use any offensive

words. Now that the words had been drawn attention to, he thought they ought to be dealt with.

Mr. Cooper.—The Speaker says they are not unparliamentary. Mi-. Gan-ett.—The Speaker had said nothing of the kind. The words, ho thought, ought to be withdrawn, and the motion too.

Mr. Speaker said if the matter was intended to be proceeded with, the Colonial Secretary had better withdraw—it was the usual coux-se.

(Mr. Parkes accordingly left the chamber.) Mr. Foi-ster understood the words to be applied to the lion, member for Camden, and if the lion, member maintained that ho did not apply them to him, he (Mr. Forster) did not believe the hon. member’s disclaimer. (Oh, oh, and Hear, hear.) He could not believe it against the evidence of his own senses. If he were to believe that disclaimer, he should be simply contradicting himself. The words, it seemed to him, were not only intended to apply in a general way, hut were intended to apply to the hon. member personally. He could not understand any one coming to any other conclusion. The question was then put, and negatived by 22 votes to 6. - Mr. Parkes, on re-entering the chamber, was greeted with loud cheers from the Government benches.

Mr. Garrett.—A great moral victory. At a later period of the night Mr. Robertson, referring to the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Parkes, used the following language, to which a particular objection seemed to be made : There was one statement of the hon. gentleman’s in which lie thought both sides of the House concurred. He said he was not afraid to go to the country, and was willing to do so. Ho (Mr. Robertson) thought he might, On behalf of hon. members on his side of the House, challenge the hon. member to go to the country, (Opposition - cheers.) They challenged this boasting laud of imposter to go to the country. (Cheers.) After the manner in which the hon. member had addressed the House to-night they might think it necessary to compel him to go to the country. They were ready to go to tho country, and let them go, for that was the proper remedy for their present trouble. (Hear, hear.) It was no use talking like a lot of fishfags at each other across the table. The hon. gentleman went out of his way to blackguard the hon. member for Camden, whose boots he was not fit to clean. The hon. member had not the courage to remain in the House while he was speaking, hut was forced to run away. (Heax-, hear.) The hon. and cowardly, sneaking, snivelling, cx-inging hound could not stand fire, but slunk out of tho chamber ! He listened to the hon. hound’s abuse, hut the hon. hound now sneaked away. (Attention called to the state of the House, and a quoinm was formed.) The hon. member the Pi-emier, who had delivered himself of the grossest falsehood that had ever fallen fx-om the lips of any snivelling, whining fellow, now ran away. (Attention called to the state of tho House, and a quox-um formed.) If there were any truth in this boasting imposter he would go to the country. (Opposition cheers.)