Dr Gibb’s Rejoinder

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 5 September 1905, Page 2

Dr Gibb’s Rejoinder

By Tclegrapli. From Our Special Reporter. WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. At. St. John’s Presbyterian Church last evening- the Rev, Dr. Gibb referred to tlie breach of privilege witli which he was charged in the House of Representatives on Friday, tlie charge being tlie sequel to letters which Dr. Gibb wrote to certain members of Parliament concerning their attitude on tho Bible-in-schools question. Dr. Gibb said : -‘‘l suppose many of you expect me. to say something concerning the remarkable breach of privilege debate in the House the other evening. It was, in many respects, a very re- .. markable debate. If a member of Parliament proves false to his promises you may, it seems, go into his electorate and plainly tell his constituents so. That involves no breach of privilege, but, marvellous to relate, if you venture to intimate your intention to the person chiefly conccj-ned you arc guilty of an offence. against the laws of the House. Well, for my part I utterly fail -to see tlie point which a majority of the House apparently saw clearly and, in like qircumstances, J will again do exactly what I did. The fact is that it is time and more than time for the promoters of the great cruisade for the restoration of the Bilile to the public schools to speak straight out, and to insist that promises made to them shall be kept.It has come to a precious pass in this supposedly free community if a man may not speak out his convictions about Parliament and its members without let or hindrance. And yet 1 do not think anything better for the cause could happen than that an effort should be made to restrict freedom of speech. But that will not happen : there will be no martyr made, neither bonds nor imprison- " ment-await the boldest champion of our -'cause. As a matter of fact the laughter which greeted the statement that the dignity of the House had been vindicated, shows clearly enough how the matter was regarded by Parliament itself. The whole thing is absurd. The discussion, however, revealed a remarkable vocabulary" of vituperation and a dictionary of slang might be enriched by culling some of the choice expressions that were used by one or two members concerning the bold bad man <who had dared to invade the sacrasanct privileges of Parliament. I have, however, it. was said, been sufficiently punished. Well, well ; I have had a good deal of quiet amusement out of that statement, as doubtless so have you.”

Tn fits discourse last evening at St'. Janies’ Church the Rev. W. Shirer v made reference to a certain absence of reverence in modern society, as indicated by the flippant way in which the most sacred matters were commonly referred to in conversation, and especially to the use of Holy Writ in jesting speech. There were those who seemed to recognise no obligation to hold anything sacred. There were hymns, endeared to the whole church and Which had almost the sacredness of Scripture itself, and one of these, he regretted to say had been made use of in the House of Representatives in a manner which amounted almost to profanation. It might be a “ breach oiprivilege ”to comment on offences against good taste and of decency by members of that Assembly, but nevertheless he felt bound to enter a protest, and he would add that the members who were reported to have given way to mirth at the recent perversion of “ Lead Kindly Light ” had very little indeed to laugh at.