An Extraordinary Scene

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 July 1888, Page 2

An Extraordinary Scene

Sydney, July 9. A somewhat extraordinary scene was witnessed in the Assembly one night last week, when Mr Buchanan tabled the motion declaring the Speaker unfit for his position, and affirming that his frequent frivolous, irrtating and uncalled for interference with member, had created much disorder. When the motion was called on the Speaker, with the concurrence of the House, vacated the chair, and Mr Oameron, the Chairman of Committees, took his place. A point of order was at once raised that the Speaker oonld not leave the chair although it was agreed that he had shown good taste in withdrawing with the concurrent), of the House. The head of the Government admitted that strictly speaking the Speaker had exceeded hie powers, and as the proceedings were, therefore, informal, after an irregular debate the Speaker returned to th. chair, Mr Buchanan then went on to debate the motion in the most insulting term., remarking that the Speaker', ruling, were characterised by imbecility and idiocy. He was met with strong dissent from members on both rides of the House, _ but the Speaker ruled that he could not interfere, and Mr Buchanan therefore continued speak: ing for two hour., while the members parted the time in reading the papers and, a. far as possible, ignoring the passionate address of the member for Central Cumberland. Th. Colonial Secretary and other member, defended the Speaker, but a few members on the opposite side, white objecting to the strong terms of the resolution, agreed that the Speaker had acted partially and with lack of judgment. On a division the motion was lost by 55 votes to 5 amid the cheer, of the House. Messrs Buchanan, Dawson, and Walker, alone voted with the ayes.