MEMBERS AT LOGGERHEADS

Evening Star, Issue 14529, 3 December 1910, Page 5

MEMBERS AT LOGGERHEADS

SCENE IN THE HOUSE. NERVES AND NASTINESS. [From Our Parliamentary - Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 3. Something in the nature of a scene took place in tho House of Representatives lust night, when two North Island members on the Government .Ode of the House had a warm passage at arms. One of the members had been making some remarks on matters pertaining to public works, and these remarks the Hon. R. APKcnzio characterised as ‘•flapdoodle," A point of order was at once raised by the member concerned. "Was the expression parliamentary?” he asked. The Chairman (Air Colvin) ruled that the expression was in order. "Then I disagree with you, and move to report progress, in order that we may obtain the ruling of the Speaker,” was tho response. The dhision bell accordingly began to ring. ‘Pile taking of a division occupies seven or eight minutes, and members ncre not inclined to waste time. ‘‘ Take it on the voices,” called several. ‘‘No, 1 will have a division,” replied tho obdurate one. “Very well, call for a division, and prove yourself an ass,” called a member who occupied a .seat just behind that of tho Alinistcr. Without waiting for more, the legislator so addressed went quickly from his seat on the back benches to the member who had interjected, and in tones which were plainly audible from the Press Gallery demanded an adjournment beyond tho precincts of the Chamber. ‘‘Come out into the lobby, you crawler, and I will deal with yon,” ho said, and, pushing himself into the same seat, actually jostled its rightful occupant. The invitation to file)) outside was repealed, and refused. Evidently only a confused hum of angry voices reached the Chairman, for ho took no other action than to utter a peremptory "Order, gentlemen, order!” Tho gentle persuasion of Alessrs Stall worthy and Taylor had the effect of sending the bellicose member back to his seat, but for some time he continued to ffing the epithet ” crawler ” hack to the object of his displeasure, and to talk of what would happen when they got into the lobbies. Apparently the incident went no further, for at a late hour this morning both members were still about the building, and neither bore any signs of having participated in a fistic encounter. The incident is no doubt to bo attributed to the fact that most members are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. The sitting hours for the present week give an indication of what a nerve-racking process legislation by exhaustion really is. On -Monday morning the House met at 10.50 a.m., unci except for adjournment for meals, sal till seven o'clock the following morning -a twenty hours’ silling. On that occasion the Tramways Rill was the stumbling block. On Tuesday tho House met again at 7.50 p.m., and debated the Iline allegations till 5.50 on Wednesday morning. That afternoon the House met again at 2.50, and finished up the Hine business at 2 a.m. on Thursday. Twelve hours later members were back at. wort - , and kept going till 5.50 on Friday morning. Mix and a-lialf hours were allowed for sleep and breakfast, and then at 11 a.m. members reassembled, and sat continuously till daybreak this (Saturday) morning. Over seventy hours’ parliamentary work - in a week is some excuse for members h.-ing short-tempered—and they weie.