An Impudent Member.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6095, 16 June 1892, Page 4

An Impudent Member.

Perhaps the greatest " cross" the House has had to bear since Sir George Campbell was, as General Booth would say, " promoted to glory," is, says a London correspondent, Mr Morton. This worthy man's dense self-conceit makes the average M. P. groan with hopeless, helpless, dismal exasperation. Every known method of closing his mouth has been tried without result. He has been ironically cheered, which is not pleasant, and howled at, which is worse. The Speaker has called him to order without damping his ardour, and the House unanimously closured him without in the least affecting his sublime selfcomplacency. Night after night, as the Estimates arrive on the tapis, Mr Morton (to quote the once familiar Olivette) " bobs up serenely." Fully believing in the immense importance of a member of Parliament, and his sacred character as the ekct of the people, all ordinary weapons are lost on him. Likening himself to many a political martyr of the past, the member f orPeterboro 1 proceeds, regardless of interruption, with his self chosen task. He speaks for the " People " (with an immense P). In this capacity he has in swollen periods patronised the Queen and the Prince of Wales, and pitied (whilst the House writhed) the "poor princess." One night last week he had the amazing audacity to pat " Labby " on the back. It was not, however, till Monday that Mr Morton gloriously crowned his record. The present Speaker is a peculiar grue« some personage. Even that cast iron individual Tim Healy has been known to blench beneath his withering eye. Well, on Monday, Mr Morton actually condescended to approve of the chief commoner of Engiand. It happened thus : — Mr Speaker was asked a question regarding some difficult case of privilege or procedure. He gave his ruling as usual, with grave dignity and impartiality. Up darted the familiar figure of the insuppressible member for Peteiboro. ♦' Mr Speaker, I quite agree with you," quoth he, in tones of cordial commendation. There was a moment's stupified silence, and then a Homeric peal of laughter such as one seldom hears in Parliament. Even Mr Peel himself smiled grimly. " You have beaten your record, Morton," said Labby, quite affectionately.