SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 71

SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

MR BEDFORD AND THE PREMIER. SENIOR MEMBER FOR DUNEDIN IN TROUBLE. USE OF PERSONALITIES. ' The House of Representatives, at 1 okjlock on Friday morning witnessed an incident that caused a temporary sensation. The debate on the land question had elicited many personal interjections, but the “first flush” of interest was beginning to fade when the member for Dunedin created a scene. .. .Mr Bedford, in criticising the Government’s land policy, declared that the Premier was shielding himself behind the Parliament in this matter, and added, “He is taking his whipping like a cur lying down.” The Premier: I move, sir, that the words be taken down. I intend to take action. It is about time we stopped this sort of thing; otherwise* I don’t know where we will get to. The Speaker: That being the case, the question now is, what is the pleasure of the House in regard to this matter? I rule the words out of order. My duty is to call upon the hon member to give any explanation he may desire to make. Mr Seddon: If the hon member will express his regret for having used these words I shall not press the matter. Mr Massey:. Has he been given an opportunity to withdraw ? Voices: No. Mr Massey: Then the usual'course is to give him the opportunity. Mr Bedford: I withdraw the words, and apologise for having used them. What I intended to convey was that the Premier would take .his whipping lying down, and the word cur came out of my mouth inadvertently. I trust that explanation will be taken as satisfactory. Mr Seddon: I accept the expression of regret. Before I proceed to move in the matter, the next step is for the hon member to withdraw from the House.

Mr Bedford accordingly left the Chamber.

Mr Seddon: The hon member having said that these offensive words were used inadvertently, and having apologised, I move that the House is satisfied, and proceeds no further with the matter. Recently members have used words and then withdrawn them, leaving the matter to rest there, thinking that is enough. It has been don 9 too often, and should be stopped. Mr Taylor supported the motion, and expressed regret that the hon member for Dunedin should have used such a term. It was unnecessary, as there were so many other words that would have carried the same meaning, without offending Parliamentary etiquette at all. He hoped the Premier would set an example to the younger members of the House, for he had used terms about members that caused intense irritation. The Hon Mr Kall-Jones sais the hon member had used other remarks that had given offence, and he hoped the result would act as a check upon members in the future. The motion proposed by the Premier was agreed to on the voices. Mr Speaker then called upon the Sergeant-at-Arms to inform Mr Bedford of the decision of the House. On taking his seat, the member for Dunedin was addressed by the Speaker. “I have to inform the hon gentleman,” he said, “ that the House has passed a resolution to the effect that the hon member, having withdrawn the unparliamentary expression and expressed his regret, the House is satisfied; I hope it will be a caution to the hon member and other hon members to be very guarded in their language in the heat of debate.” Mr Bedford gave thanks, and went on with his speech. He had not gone far before he was again called to order for casting a reflection upon the methods of the Government in regard to nominations to the Legislative Council.