"WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12588, 24 August 1901, Page 7

" WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES.”

THE INCIDENT IN THE COUNCIL. [From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 23. The incident connected with the refusal of the Hon George Jones to obey the ruling of the Chairman of Committees, and withdraw the remark that those, employed in the liquor trade were engaged'-in a discreditable business fizzled; out in the Council. The Minister of Education, without expressing any opinion as to whether the words were parliamentary or not, said that it was the clear -duty of every member to obey the ruling of the chair. The Speaker (Sir Henry Miller) said that the only point he had to consider was whether there had been a refusal to obey the chair; lit was not part of his duty to say whether the .words were parliamentary or not. He called Upon the honourable gentleman who had used the words objected to, and which were offensive to another honourable member to withdraw them, and he was quite sure that by so doing Mr Jones would nob only bo consulting his own dignity but the dignity of the Council. The Hon G. Jones expressed his willingness to accept the position, conceiving that it was the ‘duty of every member of- the Council to obey the ruling of the chair. In withdrawing the expression, and submitting himself to the ruling of the chair he wished to explain that Jiis refusal on the previous night to submit was consequent upon his impression at the -outset that the Chairman had nob definitely ruled that the expression must be' withdrawn. He desired to be clearly understood that his submission to the ruling of the chair- did not necessarily imply any acknowledgment on his part that the language he had used was unparliamentary and such as he had no light to use as a member of the Council. With a view to getting the Speaker’s ruling on the point he repeated that those engaged in the liquor traffic were employed in “ a discreditable business.’ At the same time he disclaimed any intention whatever of reflecting on the personal character of any member of the Council or a ny person whose misfortune it was to be engaged in the liquor traffic. (Laughter). The Speaker repeated that he had not decided whether the words were unparliamentary. He understood that the honourable gentleman withdrew his words in obedience to the ruling of the chair. The Hon G. Jones: I.do, sir. Tho incident then .closed. The opinion expressed was that Air Jones had scored; for by repeating the words in the Council, and their being allowed! to pass unchallenged amounted to a tacit admission that the Chairman’s ruling was incorrect.