N.S.W. POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 62, 27 February 1912, Page 5

N.S.W. POLITICS.

MOTION REFLECTING ON SPEAKER. MR. WOOD AGAIN REMOVED. [ PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. J Sydney, Feb. 26. Mr. Levien’s motion reflecting on the Speaker was the first business before the Legislative Assembly to-day. The atmosphere was electric. Before the motion was introduced Mr. Wood asked if it would lie discussed free of any restrictions from, the chair. The Speaker asked Mr. Wood to withdraw and apologise. Mr. Wood disclaimed any intention of personal offensiveness, but the Speaker held that it was not a question of,personal offence, but of offence to the House. Mr. Wood, declining to withdraw, was removed by the Speaker’s order. The Opposition showing strong resentment, the Speaker cautioned two other members. Mr. Levien then moved his motion. Mr. Levien took exception to the nlanher of Speaker Willis’ appointment. He did not think any Government in this or any other country could show a chair occupied under similar circumstances. He (Mr. Levien) was an Independent and was offered and refused the chair. Mr. Willis, a Liberal, accepted it under conditions which made his occupancy a matter of sorrow. Mr. Willis had not occupied it with the dignity necessary to the position. The essentials of the position were impartiality, fairness and common justice. He had not been impartial, fair or just. A division is expected to lie taken later. It is anticipated that Mr. Levien’s motion will be defeated by a narrow margin. “NO RESERVATION.” AN INSISTENT SPEAKER. Sydney, Feb. 20. When the Assembly met yesterday* afternoon, Mr. Wood, member for Bega, who has been under suspension on a charge of contempt since October 19th, was escorted to the bar of the House by the Ser-geant-at-Arms. The Speaker, after some preliminary fumbling of papers, rose amid intense silence and read the resolution of suspension from the Votes and Proceedings. He laid emphasis on the concluding words of the resolution, “until he apologises to the House,” and then with greater emphasis concluded, “and now is his opportunity to apologise.” Mr. "Wood, who was greeted with cheers by the Opposition side of the House, said : I understand from your statement, sir, that this House adjudges me guilty of contempt on a charge of deliberately leaving the Chamber without paying my respects to the Chair, and of using offensive language to the Chair. I understand further, sir, that from some subsequent action since the suspension this House insists upon some form of ample apology for the contempt of which I am accused. I desire to say, sir, that I have ■io desire in the world to refrain from any expression of regret either individually or collectively, when I know I have committed an offence. I desire to say, sir, in this matter that the House has been good enough, or 25 members of it, to adjudge me guilty of contempt, and that the majority of the House, at any rate, has deerniined to uphold that position. I am confroned with the situation that I either have to conform to the position put forward by the House or take refuge in the very objectionable course of resigning, thereby putting myself and my constituency to great expense. In view of that fact I am quite ready to express what regrets I can, if they are of any use to this Chamber. So far as I have committed any offence, I regret it exceedingly. But I absolutely deny that I either used offensive words to the Chair or left this Chamber without

The Speaker: Order' I would point out to Mr. Wood that if he wishes to commit to writing his apology shortly I will allow him to do so ; but I cannot allow’ him to continue in his present strain. Mr. Wood : Inasmuch as the House imperatively places upon me the obligation to make some form of apology or seek re-election The Speaker: Sergeant, remove the hon. member. The Sergeant-at-Arms approached Mr. Wood, but remained standing while the Speaker addressed seine further words to him. The Speaker: Mr. Wood must make, his apology without reservation. Mr. Wood jvas about to speak, when the Speaker called the House to order. The Speaker : Hon. members must hear the apology in silence. Mr. Wood: I desire to say again, sir, that if the House insists upon my going through a form of apology on the assumption that 1 have done something wrong I have no hesitation in doing it- But I deny the charge brought against me. The Speaker : Order I 1 cannot allow the hon. membe r to make any reservation. Air. Wood: Having said what I have said, I have said all I desire. The Speaker : I would point out to the hon. member that the ma: ter is not complete. He must make an apology satisfactory t<> the House. : If Im wishes to retire and write h:s ’ !< gi I will permit him to do so. . But he rniisi make an apology aeIceptable to the House. I Dr. Arthur: I move that the apoloi (j,- be received. (Disorder. ) i Mr. Wood tto th? Speaker): What ! form of apology is insisted upon ' I have no desire in expressing- - The Premier (mtio voi-m): Aoeept ■ the charge unconditionally. i Mr. Wood (hotly): 1 si:ml nev:-.‘ ■ .accept the charge. i The Speaker (sharply): Sergeant. 1 remove Air. Mood. 1 A

Mr. Wood (surprised): Am Ito understand, sir, that 1 am being r»nioved i The Speaker (eohll\): Mr. Wood may be permitted to put in writing what he has to say. But the House must have an apology without reservation. I will give him one more opportunity for an apology withoutreservation. Mr. Wood (sarcastically): With your permission, sir. In no sense do I desire to hold that this House is not in a position to deal with me in the manner in which it has. I have never controverted that. I have said that, so far as the House 'in its judgment accuses me of certain offences and finds me guilty. I cannot interfere with that finding. I accept it. But this is the first opportunity I have li :vl of either speaking lo the public or the membcis of the House on this subject as to the merits ; and while I apologise to the House in view of its action I still say that 1 did not commit either cf the offences. The Speaker: That is no apology. Opposition members: Shame! Mr. Trower: It is an insult. The Speaker: There is a reservation in these remarks. Government members (vociferously) : Apologise ! The Speaker: There is a reservation, and the House could not accept his apology. I tell the hon. member finally that if he will say shortly that lie wishes to apologise and make an apology the H< use will hear him and considt r it. But there can be no reservation. Mr. Wood: 1 have no desire to make any reservation so far as the charge is concerned. I have apologised to the House. (Hear, hear.) The Speaker: The hi:m. member Mr. Wood desires to make an apology to the House without reservation. The motion is tiiat the formal business of the House be now proceeded with. For the motion say “aye,” against “no.” The “ayes” have it. This closed the incident, and Mr. Wood took his accustomed seat on the front Opposition tench. OPPOSITION NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK. (Received 27, 10.15 a.m.) Sydney; Feb. 27. Mr. Levine attributed the Speaker’s mistakes while, occupying the Chair to the weakness of overweening vanity. Mr. McGowen declared the motion was the most serious charge ever made in the New South Wales Parliament. He maintained that though the Speaker had been insulted he always maintained the dignity of his posit ion. If the Chair bad been occupied by a man without firmness and dignity the House would have been a Bedlam.

The Speaker, replying from the Chair, said that he was subjected to continual interjections. He declared ho had always been careful to act in accordance with the Standing Orders. He was jealous of the honour of the House and anxious to do justice to all. In so far as he had failed it was due to the frailty of human nature. When he concluded, he called on Mr. Levien to reply.

Several Opposition members wished to speak, but they were not allowed and left the Chamber. The motion was defeated by 34 to 6, only two members of the Opposition voting.