PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 165, 21 July 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

« • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - ' Saturday, July 18. After the telegraph office closed on Satur- - ' - • lay morning the debate was continued on . _; the Premier's motion to fino Mr Watson •'"-': ? £500, and Captain Russell's amendment. '.' Messrs Earnshaw, Collins, Massey, and Heko XA also spoke.: On a division Captain Russell's amend- . ; ment was rejected by 45 to 19. -. '■: 'Mr H. D. Bell then "moved to strike out the fine r with a view of ; substituting the---: punishment of detention in tho custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. He said this was the . ' first time for 230 "years that a fine was to be , inflicted in the British Dominions on a per- ■ son outside of the House. It was a monstrous '-.-X'--precedent to establish, as it gave the House '': -) power to absolutely ruin any individual out- . side its preefnets. - v : " Mr Seddon said matters had come to suoh : •'.- ' a pass that it was now a question whether ' • tho Bank of New Zealand or the House " X should rule. Ho did not think the amount ' of the fine, under tbe circumstances, was ' ' excessive, and as for imprisonment by order'-A-of the Speaker, it had been a farce. It was ' Ahis duty to defend the rights and privileges ' A of the House, and if it was his dearest friend who had infringed .Ihemi.he would take the .""■' same cjurse as he had done^hiit night. ' " : r-vY. MrT. Mackenzie condemned tho altitude Aa "fAu 6 premier.— Mr G. J. *mith said that": all the trouble aroso out of the inclusion of - the second clause in tho order of reference.— i Mr G. W. Russell suggesled a £50 fine, with - the alternative of 14 days' custody.— Messrs AA Crowther, Hall and Hrko also spoke. . ".-.'• A% Ml- Bell's amendment was lost by 44 to 20.^'---Mr J. W. Kelly moved to reduce the fine'; ~ ; ' to ioO.— Mr Button said it would be most :."•'• invidious to inflict a more severe punish- '-■■*• ment on outsiders than could be inflicted on members of the House for similar, infringe- - ; ments.— Amendment lost by 37 to 27. On the motion of Mr Hall- Jones the latter part of the Premiers resolution, providing that until the fine is paid Mr Watson should : remain in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, was struck out and the remaining .-.' portion of tho motion inflicting a fine of £500 on Mr Watson was agreed to by 30 to 26. . . ." Mr G. W. Russell asked whether any - .-. alternative was proposed in the eyent of the fine not being paid.— Mr Seddon said he took it that Mr Watson, being possessed of a very high sense of duty, would pay the fine. V ■": At 4.25 a.m. Mr Watson was called to the ". bar, and the Speaker communicated to him' "'•' the deoision of the House, concluding by say. 0 ing " Mr Watson may now retire." 'A. ■:-.'.■-■ The House rose at 4.25 a.m.