MEMBERS AT LOGGERHEADS.

North Otago Times, 7 December 1910, Page 1

MEMBERS AT LOGGERHEADS.

SCENE IN THE HOUSE. - NERVES AND NASTINESS, (Star's Parliamentary Reporter.) . Wellington, Dec, 3. Something in the nature -.of a scene took' place in the House of Representatives last night, when two. North Island members on the Government side of the House . had a warm [passage at 1 arms. ; One of the members had been making some repertaining to Witlie works, and these remarks .the Hon. R. M'Kenzie characterised as "flapdoodle." A point of order was at once raised by the member concerned. "Was the expression parliamentary ?" he asked, The Chairman. .(Mr Colvin) ruled that the expression was In order. "Then I disagree with you, and move to report progress, in order that we may obtain the ruling; of the Speaker," was the response. The -division bell -accordingly began to ring. The taking of a division- occupies seven or eight minutes,, and menders were not inclined to waste time. "Take it on the voices," called several. "No, I will have a-division," replied the obdurate one. "Very well, call for a 'division, and prove yourself an ass," called a.member who occupied a. seat just 'behind that of the Minister. Without waiting, for more, the 'legislator so addressed went quickly from his seat on the back benches to the member who had interjected, and in tones which were plainly audible irom the Press Gallery, demanded an adjournment beyond the precincts of the Chamber. "Come out into the lobby, you crawler, and I will deal- with you," lie said, and t pushing himself into the same seat, actually jostled its rights occupant* The invitation' to step outside was repeated, and refused. Evidently ' only a confused hum of angry voices reached the Chairman, for he took no other action than tc' utter a peremtory, "Order, gentlemen, order !" The gentle, persuasion of Messrs' Stallworthy and Taylor 1 had the effect of sending the ibellicose member back to his seat, but -for some time lie continued to fling fcha epithet '"crawler" back to the object of his displeacure, and to talk of what would 'happen when they got into the lobbies.

Apparently the incident went no further,'for at a late hour this morning, both members were still about, the founding, and neither bore any signs of having participated in a fistic encounter, The incident is no. doubt to be attributed to the fact that most' members are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. The sitting hours for the present week give an indication of what a nerve-racking procesi legislation by exhaustion really is. On Monday morning the House met at 10.30 a.m M and except for adjournment for meals,"'sat till seven o'clock, the following morniftg-a 20 hours' sitting. On that occasion the Tramways Bill wag ;thV stumbling block. On. Tuesday the House . met again at 7.30 p.m., and'debated the Hine allegations till 3.30 on- Wednesday morning.;, ¥hat afternoon the : House met again at. 2.30, and fiiiished ud the Hine) business at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Twelve' 'hours later members were back a t work, and kept going till 3.30 on Friday morning, Six'and a half hours. were allowed for -sleep and breakfast, and then at 11 a.m. members reassembled, and sat continuously till daybreak this (Saturday) morning. Over, seventy hours' parliamentary woak. in a weefe is some-excuse for members being .short-tempered-and they were." ,