The Fining of the Hon. Win. Gisborne.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 18, 22 January 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Fining of the Hon. Win. Gisborne.

AN OLD-TIME POLITICAL INCIDENT The death of the Hon. ¥m, Gisborne, ex- Colonial Secretary, recalls the incident of his being ' named ' and fined in the House iv 1881. The Representation Bill of the Hall-Atkinson Ministry had incubated a bitter ' stonewall ' on the part of tho Nelson and West Coast members, in which plain Mr. Seddon made his first successful appearance as an obstructionist. The House sat continuously for forty-eight hours, and nt last the weary Chairman of Committee (Mr. A. P. Seymour) announced that, the Committee having recorded ite decision twenty-three times on motions to report progress and to leave the chair, put alternately, without having advanced a single stage in the consideration of the measure then before the Hou&e, the limits of fair discussion had. been overstepped ; wherefore it became his duty as Chairman, iv order to uphold the proper conduct of the business, to put a stop to proceedings which had become obstructive. He therefore refused to put any fnrther motions to report progress or to leave the chair. Nor would he permit his ruling to be challenged. Mr. Gieborne thereupon mov^d .that progress bo reported in order that the unprecedented ruling of the Chairman of Committees relative to hi 9 procedure in committee might be submitted for the consideration of the House. The Chuirman refused to put the motion, but Mr. Gisborne exclaimed, ' I shall press my motion, as ihe only mpans of bringing your ruling under review by the House. If you rule me out of order I shall resist your ruling, with the objecc of beiug reported to the as disorderly, so that the Committee may obtain the opinion of Mr. Speaker whether your ruling is correct.' Whereupon the member was reported to tho Speaker, who was then, as now. Sir Maurice O'Rorke. The Premier, Mr Hall (now Sir John), in moving ' That the Hun. Mr. Gisborne, having vexatiously interrupted the orderly conduct of the business of tho Committee, is held guilty of contempt,' admitted that the hon. member had not acted in any other I spirit than a desire to assert what he believed [to be right. He fixed the penalty at the trifling aniouut of £20. Sir George Grey was on his feet immediately with a motion condoniug the action of Mr. Gisborne. Mr. "Woston followed with a suggestion of making the fine one farthing, but the Premier's motion was carried by 40 to 27. The fine was promptly paid, and it was understood that the money was -subscribed by the electors of Totara in appreciation of their member's fight for principle. ,