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Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5083, 19 September 1891, Page 2

In another column we reproduce a paragraph recounting how Mr Saunders failed to emulate Mr Bryce's example ; but acted in a cool and dignified way. We fear that Mr Saunders will never be honored with the pity and the demonstrations of the Conservatives. It is very curious, though, how Mr Saunders' innocent remark was twisted into meaning something dreadfully personal to Messrs Hall, Rolleston, and Rhodes. It was nothing for Mr Bryce to say that the Premier should be ashamed of himself. It was a thing of which every honest man should feel proud. But for Mr Saunders to call for a division so that all might see who would express an independent opinion on the question of dividing the banking account of the colony was to insinuate that there were members in. the House who were not free to express an opinion on the subject. There is no harm in members being so tied up in their relations to financial institutions that they are induced to let the public advantage slip sometimes for the sake of their masters; but it is positively indecent to call upon members, as Mr Saunders did, to show their independence, lest those gentlemen who are so critically situated that they cannot be looked at, much less talked about, should suffer in reputation. We fear that the Opposition are in a very bad way.