THE ACTION OF MB. BRYCE.

Colonist, Volume XXIV, Issue 7110, 7 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ACTION OF MB. BRYCE.

('The Colonist,' September 2nd.)

The whole of the proceedings which led up to the Hon. Mr Bryee resigning his seat in the House were of a nature to occasion regret, but the lull reports of what transpired show that a great deal was made out of Very little. But for the irritating manner of Mr Scobie Mackenzie and some other members, no doubt the storm would have been weathered, but there was an absence of tact on the part of the Opposition members, and some of the minor members of the Government party were far too eager to speak. Apparently, however, the whole of the trouble may be attributed to the undesirable practice of sitting late into the night. In the early hours of Thursday morning last the Land Bill was under consideration, and Mr McKenzie, the Minister for Lands, who had only recently risen from a sick bed and who had, in the words of one member, been goaded for several | hours by the Opposition, ro3e to reply about three o'clock in the morning. In the course of his remarks he referred to the matter of certain runs in the Otago district, and is reported to have said that if the secrets of that matter were stated in the House it would not be to the credit of his predecessor in office. Mr Eichardson denied that there were any secrets, and urged that if the Minister had any information he should disclose it, or withdraw his remarks. On this Mr Mclienzie showed that his remark-; had not the larger import that it has been sought to attach to them, for he s&id he would not have referred to the matter at all, but for an intimation which M> Kicbardson had thrown ou; in an earlier speech, and then he quoted a remark of the late Hoo. Robert Campbell, which, unfortunately, was open to more serious construction than was evidently intended. Me Eichardson at once pointed cut that the language was capable of an interpretation which implied thai; he bad acted in a corrupt manner. The Speaker rightly said that soch a charge oould not be made, unlses it was to be s-übetantiated. The Minister for Lands thereupon s -id that Mr Eichardson challenged him, or he should not have used the words, which he then withdrew. It was thus evident that no charge of a grossly improper nature was intended against Mr Biehardson, whose honor remained unquestioned, but ihat gentleman, probably urged on by friands, again referred to what had taken place when the House assembled in the afternoon, and apparently there was some doubt in the ininds of certain members as to whether the Minister had made a complete withdrawal, but the Minister for Public Works declared that his colleague had withdrawn the words, and advised thafc the matter should be allowed to drop. At this stage Mr Bryce entered into the discussion, and the Premier, who said there was nothing to imply that a disgraceful charge had been made, endeavoured to make peace." Further discussion ensued, when the Premier contended that the Speaker having ruled that the charges having been withdrawn they did not then exist. On this the Leader of the Opposition said the Premier should be ashamed of himself, whereupon Mr Ballance demanded the withdrawal of these wprds, but Mr Bryce refused. At this stage the last named gentleman was placed in the position of defe7idani, the words used being unparliamentary, but subsequently he complained that he had not finished his sentence when he was | previously interrupted, and made an explanation that he meant less than was ordinarily conveyed by the word I " ashamed," but he did not withdraw the unparliamentary phrase. On this it became a duty to support the chair, and eventually a resolution was carried by the House expressing regret that the words taken down had been used by Mr Bryce. Particularly sensitive, the Leader of the Opposition felt this resolution so keenly that he determined unless it were unconditionally withdrawn, that he would resign his seat. On Monday afternoon the Premier, in reply to Mr Eees, indicated that, if desired, an opportunity would be given for rescinding the resolution referring to the Hon. Mr Bryce, but Mr Scobie Mackenzie raised certain points, and a discussion followed. Again the Premier rose, and said the Government party had no desire to humiliate Mr | Bryce, from whom no apology was required. If he would bow to the ruling of the Speaker, the vote of censure I would be removed. Less than this the Premier, who is bound to uphold the Speaker, could not have asked, and it would have been in no way derogatory to Mr Bryce had he complied with the slight demand, but his mind had been made up, and. his resignation was forthwith handed in. We regret that Mr Bryce, who as Leader of the Opposition has acted altogether honorably, should have taken such a step, for by doing so he has placed personal dignity before the interest of his party. The whole circumstances are to be regretted, and afford another argument in favor of the business of the House being transacted before midnight at all events.