HASTY WORDS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 73, 23 September 1914, Page 3

HASTY WORDS

VERBAL SHARPSHOOTING IN THE HOUSE "OVER-RUN WITH GERMANS." MR. HERDMAN ANNOYS MR. RUSSELL. AND MAKES THE AMENDE HONORABLE. Deeming that aspersions had been cast on his loyalty and patriotism by the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) during the closing hours of the afternoon in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. G. W. Russell, the member for Avon, waxed very indignant and for a brief period the atmosphere- was decidedly sultry. The incident arose after Mr. Russell had made a warm attack on the War Risks Bill, during which he had accused the Government of incompetence and .had asked what the Attorney-General knew about trade and commerce. Mr. Herdman, in replying, said that for malignancy 'and malevolence the attack had never been surpassed. " I believe in the innermost recesses of tlie honourable gentleman's heart he would sooner see the Germans over-run Europe than the Government continue to occupy the Treasury benches," said Mr. Herdman as he sat down. Mr. Russell was on his feet in an instant, demanding the protection of the House against an attack on his loyalty, and insisting on the withdrawal of the words. The Speaker said it was entirely wrong for an honourable gentleman to impute wrong motives against another. He was sorry to say that members expressed their opinions very freely in the House. Mr. Russell insisted that the words be taken down, and after this had been done the Speaker read them out. "AN EXTRAORDINARY POSI- r N TION." The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), who came in., at this stage, said he had not heard the words, but it was an extraordinary position that the words had been taken down, and had not been ruled out of order by the Speaker. He moved that no further action be taken. Mr. Russell accused Mr. Massey of treating the matter as a joke. "I say that it is a blackguardly statement to make," he remarked. At a time like the present, he continued, when the country was at war, and possibly the Empire was in danger, for one man to speak to another as he had been spoken to under the protection of the House, was an outrage on the forms of the HOII6D, and an insult to his (Mr. Russell's) constituents. He had never questioned the hon. gentleman's loyalty, but had only questioned his ability, as he had a right to do. He had never questioned the patriotism of any member, and now the hon. member had hurled against him an imputation which would stand against him and his children for all time in the copies of Han6ard. The Speaker asked that honourable members should not do anything they would be sorry for afterwards. Mi". Russell asked -what justification there was for the words? He had merely pointed out the incompetency of the Government in framing the "Bill. "I suppose I angered the honourable gentleman," he remarked. Mr. Herdman: "You always do." THIS VILE STATEMENT. Mr. Russell: That is because I tell the truth, and you don't like it. He continued., still with marked emphasis, that it was the Prime Minister's duty to stand up for the dignity of the House, and if one of his colleagues made a mistake to urge him to withdraw the words. "If tne_ honourable gentleman will withdraw this vile statement, which may be held up against me and my children after I have gone," he stated, "I will let it pass." During the whole of this unfortunate, trouble, he proceeded, he had done his best to assist in anything that would be for the good of the country, and, old as he was, would be prepared to shoulder his gun and take his share in defending the country. The present Government might disappear, but the hon. member's statement against him -would stand forever. Mr. A. M. Myers described, the affair as a most unfortunate and regrettable incident. 1 The Minister : I made no reference to you. Was there any justification? Mr. Myers : What if there was? Was it sufficient to justify that? I think we all regret it, and I trust at this momentous period of our history we shall not do anything that we shall bitterly regret. MINISTER URGED TO WITHDRAW. Mr. Myers went on earnestly to advise the Minister of Justice to withdraw a statement obviously made in a heated moment. To attack a man's loyalty at such a time was the worst of insults, and the member for Avon naturally smarted deeply under such an aspersion. ' They had tried on their side of the House to observe the party truce. The Prime Minister : What about your journalistic mouthpieces? Mr. Myers : We are not concerned with journalistic mouthpieces? We are concerned with a Minister's statement in this House. Mr. Forbes followed with a reference condemning the Minister ot Justice for the remark made and the ; Prime Minister for condoning it. One ' of the reasons why they did not want the elections to go on was that the Government would say in the face of criticism : This is no time for party criticism and attempt to gain advantage by making the point. The Prime Minister was looking at the whole business as a party leader and not as Prime Minister and leader of the House. -He was not giving members "a square deal." Mr. Buddo had just risen when the dinner adjournment was taken. "BLESSED ARE: THE PEACEMAKERS." When the House resumed after the dinner adjournment the Prime Minister made a plea for "a burial of the hatchet." He was going North that night, and before he left he would like to make a suggestion to the main disputants. He did not believe the At-torney-General's words' were intended to be taken seriously. He personally had not heard them, but he had been informed that the member for Avon had made an intensely irritating speech, and that the Minister of Justice had replied in an irritating fashion. "I believe," added Mr. Massey, "that both members are to blame. 1 am going to suggest that each should express regret and bury the hatchet. This is not the time for bitter recrimination. I sincerely hope the suggestion will be accepted." Sir Joseph Ward said he very seldom lost his temper — (laughter) — and he hardly ever made a strong statement, unless it was necessary. (Laughter.) In all his political career he had very seldom had to withdraw any statement. The best thing to do in any incident of this kind was for honourable members to withdraw any statement that had slipped out unexpectedly and unintentionally. In regard to the member for Avon, lie had n,evsi> .known him make

a personal attack on any member. The Minister of Justice had made an aspersion. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. The Prime Minister : Purely a figure of speech. Sir Joseph Ward : Without a soul — that's a figure of speech also. Personally, said the Leader of the Opposition, he thought the Prime Minister had been out of order in moving that no further action be taken. The proper thing was to ask the honourable member to withdraw the offensive remark. The Speaker held that an opportunity should be given to the honourable member who made the remark to withdraw it. At this stage Mr. Herdman arose and said he did not wish to keep up the discussion,- and he would withdraw the words. The speech to which he had replied was a provoking one and fie had spoken with heat, but he recognised that it was high time the unpleasantness came to an end, and he withdrew the words he used. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Russell intimated that he would accept the withdrawal cheerfully and unreservedly. He explained that he had only intended his speech to be a vigorous one, and had made no personal reflection on the honourable gentleman. He congratulated the Minister ,on his manly and honourable withdrawal. The House granted tho necessary permission for withdrawal, and the business was once more harmoniously proceeded with.