SCENE IN THE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4489, 17 October 1901, Page 7

SCENE IN THE COUNCIL.

A STORMY DISCUSSION. SUSPENSION OP A MEMBER. A scene, probably unparalleled in the history of the New Zealand Legislative Council, took place on the floor of that Chamber yesterday, ending in the censure and suspension of a member. The whole affair was a painful one, and considerable heat wag displayed. The Council had only been sitting about fifteen minutes and discussion was'proceeding on the Shops and Shop Assistants Acts Amendment Bill. The Hon. S. E. Shrimski, who opposes the Bill, said something to the effect that chemists’ assistants had no feeling as to what happened to other people, as long as they got their half-holiday. The Hon. G. Jones said that wag a heartless thing to say; there was no need to keep chemists’ assistants’ noses to the grindstone in that way. The Hon. S. E. Shrimski took this as an insinuation upon his own attitude in the matter, and replied with considerable heat, “I object to the hen. gentleman’s remarks. He need not talk. If there was ever a ‘sweater’ in this colony ho is one. (Cries of Orderl Order!) He hag been in business in Dunedin, and it is known —” The Hon. G. Jones: I move those words be taken down. Mr Shrimski: Quite right too. The Chairman of Committee (Hon. Captain Baillie) asked what words the Hon. G. Jones objected toMr Jones: That I am a “sweater.” that I am one of the worst sweaters in the country. If he refuges to withdraw them I will move the taking down of the words. The Chairman; Do you withdraw? Mr Shrimski: I do not, sir. I did not provoke the hon. gentleman in anything, and he has charged me with wanting to put the chemists’ noses to the grindstone, and with having no heart, and I am not going to withdraw what I know to be true. The Hon. G. McLean said that if one member withdrew hig wofds. so snould the other. Mr Joneg: The hon. gentleman accuses me of saying that he desired to keep assistants’ noses to the grindstone. I said nothing of the sort. I said the hon. gentleman made use of language that would suggest-|-(Cries of Nci! No!) X made no reflection upon the hon. gentleman. I said he accused these young men of having no heart. The Hon. Mr McLean doesn’t know what he is talking about. (Cries of “Order” and ■“Stop it.”) The Hon. W. C. Walker: Let it stop. I think it is very unfortunate in the .Council that any such words shou-- be spoken between honourable gentlemen. The proper way is to report progress, and report the matter to the bpeaker, and I move that. I hope the hon. gentleman will withdraw. Mr Shrimgki: I won’t withdraw! If 'Jihad been a supporter of the Govern, fiient. then very likely the Hon. Minister would support me.' The Speaker was then called, and Captain Baillie reported the matter. The Speaker : Tee words are highly unparliamentary, and I call upon the hen. I gentleman to withdraw. Mr Shrimski: He has told the Council that I had no heart, that I desire to keep chemists’ assistants’ noses to the

grindstone. I said he was a “sweater,” and I decline to withdraw. The Speaker: If tho hon- member does not withdraw, then I have only one course. He must withdraw from the Chamber while the question is discussed. Mr Shrimgki then bowed to the chair and retired. The Hon. W. C. Walker then moved that the Hon. S. E. Shrhn s ki, having refuged to obey the ruling of the Speaker and withdraw words complained of, should be tonsured by the Speaker and suspended for the rest of tho sitting. After further discussion, the motion was carried on tho voices, Mr Shrimgki wag then called on to tho floor of the Chamber. The Speaker said Mr Shrirn ski's long experience in Parliament should have convinced him that the words ho used were against the standing orders, and that no hon. gentleman could use such words in tho Chamber without a breach of those orders. In tho meantime, the honourable member would be suspended from tho sitting. _ { Tho Hon. Mr Shrimski bowed in silence and retired.