HOT WORDS AND WITHDRAWALS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 23 September 1914, Page 6

HOT WORDS AND WITHDRAWALS.

During the course of a debate in the House to-night the Hon. A. L. Herdman was asked to withdraw certain words.

The Minister had moved the second reading of the War Risk Insurance Bill.

Sir Joseph Ward, following him, said the Government did not know what the position was in connection with war risks.

Mr Poland complained that mining companies' were seriously handicapped by.the prohibition of gold export. Mr Myers welcomed the Bill as a useful protection to small shippers. Mr Russell said the Bill was only another illustration of the incompetency of the Government to deal with a large question when it arose. The proposal was absolutely ridiculous. The Government should have made an effort to become the agent of the Imperial authorities in this Dominion. Hon. Mr Herdman, in reply, said the speech just made by the member for Avon was one of the most bitter, yin- j dictive. and malevolent he had ever ieard. It was his personal opinion that in the innermost recesses of his heart the member for Avon would rather see Europe overrun by Germans than that the Government should remain in office. '

Mr Russell moved that those words t>e taken down.

The Premier, who hurriedly came into the House, said the words had not been ruled out of order by the Speaker, and he could do no more than move that no further action be taken.

Mr Russell said the words were amongst, the most blackguardly (here he was called to order, and withdrew the words). Continuing, he said the aspersion was a foul one cast upon his loyalty, and therefore a grave reflection upon him and his children: He would be satisfied with nothing less i>han the withdrawal of the words. Mr Myers urged that the words should be withdrawn by the Minister and the incident allowed to close.

Mr Forbes remarked that it ill became the Premier/ to sit and smile while a, member of his Government used 6uch "unwarranted language towards a; member of the House. Mr Buddo was proceeding to address the: House in a similar strain when the House rose for the dinner .adjournment. When the House resumed in the evening the Premier referred to the quarrel of the afternoon, and he suggested that both members should withdraw what they had said. . ...-:

Sir Joseph Ward agreed that it would be wise for the Attorney-General to withdraw what he had said. ■{■ Hon. Mr Herdman then withdrew the words he had used, and Mr Russell "freely and willingly accepted the ■honorable and manly withdrawal of the words."

The incident,then closed