PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5153, 21 December 1903, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES.

Mr F. E. Campbell, Awahuri, formerly clerk to the House of Representatives, writes:*—My attention has been directed to an article in the “New Zealand Times ” of the 26th ultimo, signed “ Criticus,” in which reference is made to tho late Sir David Monro and his conduct as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1862. in what was at tho time known as “ the stop-the-clock case.” I trust to your courtesy to allow mo to comment in os few words as I can on “ Criticus’s ” article, as Sir David ‘Monro woe a man for whom I had the highest respect and an affcotionato regard, and it paius mo to bAr his great services as Speaker belittled, and his name as an honourable gentle* man called in question. I think “Criticus” greatly overstated the case. I have neither tbo of the House nor the reports of debates to refer to, bub my memory is still pretty good. My recollection of the occurrence is as follows:—A Bill, of no great importance, was in its last stage; it had passed the third reading, and an unexpected discussion had arisen on a mere technical question. A member (not a. Minister) interested in getting tho Bill passed on to the Legislative Council asked! the Speaker if it would be quite unpardonable to got a messenger to stop the clock for ten minutes (tho time for adjournment had almost arrived). The reply was to the effect “I hope I shan’t see him.” I believe that several members in the House at the time were aware of what was done, and no objeo-. tion was taken or protest made. I may add that in my subsequent experience. when the time for the dinner adjournment had tho House has on many occasions tacitly prolonged the sitting to complete some, at times important, business. “ Criticus ” says a committee was ap> pointed to investigate tho circumstance. I believe he is mistaken. A notice of motion for tho appointment of Bn ch a committee was given by, I think, Mr Fox, but, as was thought at tho time, without much intention of moving it. When, in tho course of business, tbo House reached it on tbo : order paper, the Speaker forestalled it by stating what had occurred, and taking tho whole responsibility, with an expression of regret for what had happened. Whereupon a pas.sago-at-com-pliniente ensued between him and tho author of the motion, and the matter dropped. • But though it dropped, and was regarded somewhat in tho light of a joko at the time, it was no joke for Sir David a few years later at election time, when certain Nelson politicians (I don’t know where “ Criticus ” 'hails from) did'their utmost to make it appear a flagrant "breach of public duty for party purposes.