THE LARRIKIN OF THE HOUSE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7119, 17 July 1886, Page 4

THE LARRIKIN OF THE HOUSE.

HiiFSttnixoto Mi. R.Hursthouso's senseless conduct ia tho Houso the Wanganui Cnroti'-cls says. — " Tue New Plymouth and Wanganui Ilaibour Borrowing Bills are apparent \y to be smothered in the Representatives Chamber because thoTAiuNAi'( HEn.\r.n had tho unparalleled impertinence to refer to Mr. Hursthouso as 'the larrikin of the House.' Why, wo thought tho e.oparp.itly thin-skinned member for MotU'iku rather glciied in the title than otht iwibo, for filling him with which he slmjl! not bl.uno our New Plymouth conte 1 lpoi.iry, 'out instead his own fellow membeis, from whose lips tho objeclionabk' appe'i ition is frequently to be heard. luileud, we have seen and heard the member in question carrying on in the House in a fashion, tho only satisfactory exi-lanation «i' which was tint he wjrf iii.lul_in^ in a species of mild political lurrikinism. Mr. Hursthouse claims that in his action he is performing a public duty. Surely his duty to the people of Motueka or of tho colony at largo did not require that he should stoop to tho poi -.'ormance of that mean political trick of ' stonowalliag ' a private measure affecting a district represented by members quite able, without any assistance, to do all necessary debating amongst themselves. . . . Mr. Hursthouse talked himself tired against tho New Plymouth bill on the debate on the second reading; the motion, however, was carried against him after an exhaustive debate, and thu committal ordered for next private members' day. Now, what does Mr. Hursthouse do next ? Does he allow the vote of the House to take effect, and prepare himself to try and shape the bill to his liking when in Committee ? Oh 1 clear no ! He quietly bides his time for another week, and as coon as the order of the day is called for the committal of the bill, he springs to his feet in order to discuss it all over again. "What on earth for ? ' we fancy we hear some of our readers asking. ' Has he discovered some fresh evidence ? Does he really think that he will be able to convert some of his fellow members from their piasent way of thinking?' Nothing of the kind. He blurts out his meaning before he has spoken many seconds. He intends to use ' the forms of the House ' to prevent the bill passing. In other words, he meant that if he could by himself, or with the assistance of ono or two other opponents, keep up the talking — any kind of talking wo aid do— until half-past five o'clock in the afternoon, the question would again have to stand over for another week — aud by a continuance of the same mean-spirited opposition the House might be prevented from dealing with the bill any further this session."