MR. PAYNE SUSPENDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16285, 19 July 1916, Page 9

MR. PAYNE SUSPENDED.

ATTACK ON MINISTER.

SPEAKER'S RULING DEFIED.

REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW REMARK

WELLINGTON. Tuesday. While the House was considering certain amendments introduced to the Land and Income Tax Bill this evening, Mr. JPayne, member for Grey Lynn, declaimed at great length against the issue of war debentures being free from income tax- This idea, he &a.id, was in the interests of the large financial institutions, which he designated as "vultures." Any Minister who would support such a proposition was, he considered, one of the greatest traitors to the British Empire. The Speaker: The hon. member must withdraw that expression. Mr. Payne: I absolutely refuse, and I brand the Minister for Finance as a traitor to this country. The Speaker: Will the hon. member resume his seat ? Mr. Payne: I never saw anything so damnable in all my life. The Speaker: The hon. member must not use such language- I must name him for disregarding the ruling of the chair. Mr. Payne: I will take my stand before the country. Rather Go Out of Parliament. The Speaker: Does the hon. member refuse to withdraw and express regret ? Mr. Payne: I certainly do. I would rather go out of Parliament. The Speaker: Then the hon. member will withdraw from the Chamber. Mr. Payne walked out with a bundle of papers under his arm. Sir Joseph Ward: I must ask the House to conform to its own rules- I want to say that I have no feeling in this matter. It is no concern of mine what a member's opinion of me may be, but we must enforce respect for our rules. Sir Joseph Ward said, in response to a suggestion, that he had no objection to giving Mr- Payne another chance. The Speaker I have already given him a chance of withdrawing before leaving the Chamber, but I will ask him to return, and give him another chance. Mr. Payne was asked to re-enter the Chamber.

Another Chance Given. The Speaker: I have to inform the lion, I member that the members of the House j have decided to give him another chance | to withdraw the words that the members regard as offensive. The hon. member will realise that he probably used the i words in a time of heat, and on calm ! consideration he will, I am sure, do the i right thing and withdraw these words. | Mr. Payne (speaking very rapidly) : The i thing is absolutely so dastardly" that i] refuse to withdraw under any circum- i stances. i The Speaker: The hon. member cannot ; make anv statement if he refuses to with- ■ draw. He will again leave the Chamber ; while the House considers the question. j Mr. Payne : Very well. I After the member for Grey Lynn had left the Chamber, Sir Joseph"Ward said: "In the absence of the Prime Minister, I rise with regret to ask the House to enforce Standing Orders 178 and 179, and to move that the member for Grey Lynn be suspended for the remainder of the sitting." A Voice: Is that all? Sir Joseph : I think that is sufficient. My own feeling is that we do not want martyrise the member for Grey Lynn. " T e . caa L do no more than express our opinion pn the way I have indicated. I The motion of suspension was carried bv a quiet House.