"ON BOTH SIDES."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1270, 27 October 1911, Page 6

"ON BOTH SIDES."

. 1 . LEGISLATION BY EXHAUSTION. WHAT HAPPENED WIIILE THE I'KE.MIKK SLEPT. Some surprise was created in tlio Houso of Representatives yesterday ivhon tho Speaker announced that in a diyision taken in tlio email hours of yesterday morning, on Clause 8 of the Mining Aiiiwidmcjut Bill, tho Prime- Minister appeared to liavo voted on both, sides. (Laughter.) Tho Speaker asked Uio Premier to state how he had voted. Tlio Priino Minister said iio was very much iiicliiK-d to think that someone must have taken a liberty with his name, which was unwarranted. Ho went on to explain that, when the division took place, ho was asleop in his seal in the House. Jt seemed that .someone had put his name- on both sides purposely. It was an extraordinary thing that his voto should have been so recorded when ho had told one of his colleagues that ho intended to vote with tlio "Noes." As to his having been nsloep, tho Premier stated that, having been up all night on tho previous night, ho ha/1 thought himself entitled to a little repose. Sir. Massoy: '"Hint is tho effect of legislation by exhaustion!" Mr. Ngata said the Premier had informed him that ho had asked Mr. Millar to vote, on his behalf, with the "Noes." This was confirmed by Mr. Millar, and Mr. Allen said that ho also could confirm it. Tho Prime Minister: I think the tellers really ought to fay who put :uy name down with the "Ayes." Mr. Scott, one of tho toilers, stated that while the. Premier was lying on liis seat someone came along—he" thought it was Mr. Ell—and said, "Sir Joseph Ward." It was sonwono, at anyratc, whom he thought had authority to vote for the Premier. Mr. G. .T. Anderson, member for Mataura, said on several occasions he had protested as strongly a? possible— At this point_ Mr. Anderson was interrupted by Ministerial uproar. Mr. Anderson resumed calmly that ho had seen what was going on for the last throe sessions. It wns impossible for votes to be properly recorded on the plan on which they vo.ro recorded in this Jlouso. On the last occasion when hewas appointed as a toiler, he had found, on going over the division list, that eeveral names had been struck off. What was tho ii-s of being p. toller under these circumstances? So lbn» as he was appointed a teller lie waiited to see every individual who had hi* name struck off. If the tollers were to stand at tho doors, instead of in tho middle of the roo'n as they stood now, they would bo able to_ tell -srith the greatest accuracy. Id this case, thry would know who had voted for the Prime Minister, The latter was not tho only man who had voted on both sides this session. When they found _ this sort of thing going on, it was time that somebody rose in tho House and protested. He would not trust any of the. divisions that had been (aken in the early morning, or at any time, unless members went out into the lobbies and pa<wd before tho Mors. Mr. K. n. Rhodes remarked that there would always Iμ confusion under existing circumstances. He suggested that the difficulty would be overcomo if an additional door were made to the right of the Speaker's chair. Members could then go out at one door and como in at another. Mr. Davpy: Haven't you got draught , ! enough already? The Prime Minister stDtcd that ho was never in doubt r.s to how Im vss gi'iug to vote. Occasional]}-, when he required rest, ho indicated t.i ore of his tvlleopies how he was going V \v.te. On this cecaf.ion he told his collo'uuo, tho Minister for Railways, to record his vote with the "Noes," because, having considered the clause, it seemed 'o ln:n to Ivins the Bill into conflict with tho Workers' Wages Lien Act. He had taken the precaution, on this occasion, to see that his voto was recorded as he wuuld have recorded it had lie gone into tho lobby. It, was all very well for the menibtr '..r Matanra to be fastidious, and to say ho thought that every man should iro into the lobby, but, as things stood, this was not j.ossible. Possibly mistakes were mudo on occasion. Mr. Anderson: They are constantly bein? made! Tho Prirao Minister: I d>r.t tMnk any considerable mistake hits been made. Mr. Russell: Ono previous caso (his session. Mr. Anderson: I know of three. Tho Prime Minister said ho did not think an extra :l>vr wmld serv« the purpose intended. Th«'re were for lr.sny doors in {lie Chamber alrcwlv, and il another were mndi! i'.i the place iji'lurttec!. it meant that ho vrmM We- fcl.'wn nil cf tho House. He atrreed that until they got into the new House they could not have proper facilities. Messrs. Seolt and Taylor, who had acted as tellers on tbe disputed division, were railed up by the Speaker to correct the division list, and tho incident terminated. When the first division at tho ovnin.7 sitting was about to 1» taken, thn Spkni-ev said: "T hope lion, members will go into the lobbies and not v.ite on both sides to-mglit."