PLEASANTRIES IN "PARLEYMENT"

NZ Truth, Issue 579, 22 July 1916, Page 5

PLEASANTRIES IN "PARLEYMENT"

PAYNE, IMS NAMED AND SUSPENDED FOR THE SITTING A feast of "Unholy Carrion"

For a considerable time before the House met on Tuesday night the pass-age-ways were blocked with ticketholders seeking admission to the public galleries and the reserved portions on the floor of the House. Every available seat was occupied before business began, and chairs had to be brought m to accommodate the excess holders of tickets entitling them to seats to the right, and left respectively of the Speaker. And "what came they out for to see?" There " was a feeling of suppressed impatience while the preliminary business was being duait with, and many members emphasised their excited anticipation by the manner m which they endeavored to hide the same. The chief business of the evening, according to the billet of business, called In Parliamentary parlance THE "ORDERS OF THE DAY," was the War Regulations Bill Amendment Bill, m which the question of the "snicks" o'clock closing of hotel- bars was expected to be introduced and sharply divide the House. Efforts have been made to find a way out so as not to break the truce that has (supposed to have) lasted since the I formation of the National Cabinet, but I without avail, and both sides were m flne fighting trim and eager for the : fray. Alas, they had girded up their 1 loins to, no purpose. When the preliminary matter had been "disposed" i of, the Speaker announced that ho had "a message from the Guvnor, Llv'pool Guvndr." The precious message was to Introduce several additional amendments to the much-amended Finance I Bill. ■ This was sprung on the members as a surprise, and there were laud mur- | murs of dissatisfaction from all parts |of the House. This dissatisfaction found forcible voice m the member for Hutt, and led to Homo sharp repartee between that Hon. gentleman und tho Minister for Finance. Mr. Wilford pointed out that tho Orders of the Day said that tho business mem- ! bers would bo eallod upon to consider j that evening < was the War Rejju- | latloruj Ultt Amendment Bill, yet hon. members were now being asked to j pass curtain amendments without a I moment' b consideration. | Hero Sir Jo»eph Ward interjected "Thero la nothing unusual In the way them; ainotidtnonts have been Intro • I duced." I 'That's Juet it." tartlly retorted Tom, "this manner of rushing amendments on the Houao has I3ECOME ALL TOO COMMON Blnce th© National Ministry took o(Hce." ill*. Wilford then criticised the various amendments at length, taking up a hostile attitude to most of them, and expressing tho opinion that one of them wan "unnecessary, absolutely." and further, was ao worded as not to jbo unilymamiubto. Wilford declared i himself Irrevocably opposed to the re- ' mission of lneoniu tax on incomes re- | eeivod from war bondu. ; Tho member for Grey Lynn followed Mr. Wilford. ami In a well-reasoned speech was proceeding to show tho crroneounnetw, In hhi opinion, of many Htatcmentn ruado by iho Minister of Finance* In defending the banks ami big (immolat houfc«*«, and he denounced i (he CJovernniMit In gom-nil and the Finance Minister m particular, for providing them 4 "ungodly vultures now whetting their beaks for TUKIR PKAST OF UNHOLY i CARRION." j with opportunities to rob the people. To «how i he financial trickery and corruption rampant when a country 1h at wnr. ho quoted from the bankers' inftitnoutt fii-euhir l*suvil during the AnuTji-un Civil Wur. which laid special j MnphuiM* •>" tho jrreat debt which ! the banh'H "would nay" wa» made <u»l ot the war. "History Is repenting Itself," dechtrctl Mr. Payne. "Tho bntikers and finaneliil magnate are K<<<-Ing to H ()uvt a huge ilobi is being built up during this war." Then raining )ii» volc<». h«.< emphatically ami <h?Ubomtoly do^Sured; "Were 1 Minister of Firi.»«c« and brouKht down i»»ch j»ro|>o/*itlt* a« huvt* been broußlH down In this* Hou«i\ I »houltl consider myself th>s JUOOKST TRAITOH: IN TltK lUtITISIf KMVMHE," Itnmevliatvly. Sir Joseph Ward roso

and moved that the Honorable member's "words bo taken down." The member for Grey Lynn said he did not make any personal reflection on the Minister, but the Speaker ordered him to resume his seat and to withdraw tho words 1 used. Sir Joseph Ward: And express regret. Mr. Speaker: And express regret. Mr. Payne: Not on your life. I refuse. The member for Grey Lynn attempted to make a personal explanation, but the Speaker again ordered him to resumo his seat. Mr. Payne proceeded to do so, at the same time remarking that he "never saw anything so damnable" m all his life, and uttering something about the whole cuboosh being traitors. The ' Speaker, exhibiting much agitation, said that the hon. member must Hot use such language m the House, and added that he must "name" him to the House if he refused to withdraw, and express regret. \ But Mr. Payne was by this time thoroughly roused and he flatly REFUSED TO WITHDRAW OR APOLOGISE. He said he would go out of Parliament first He was then ordered to leave the chamber, and did so. After the member for Grey Lynn had passed into the lobby, Sir Joseph Ward rose and said: I regret that m the absence of tho Prime Minister J have a very unpleasant duty to perform, f have to ask the House to aeo that its rules are conformed with. In taking the action I now propose I have no feeling. It i» a matter of no concern to me what opinion the hon. member mny have of me privately, but ho has referred to me m my official position. A Member: Give him another chance. Sir Joseph Ward: I havo no objection. Perhaps before putting the standing orders Into operation the hon. member for Grey Lynn ought to have another chanco of withdrawing tho reflections ho has made. Tho Speaker remarked that he had already given Mr, Payne a second chunoc, but, nevertheless, Instructed the Sergeant -at- Anna to recall the honorable rntr.nber for Grey Lynn. As Mr. Payne mad© his way to his seat. Mr. J-'oolo remarked, In an undertone, "Conic on, John, do the 'amende' and got It over," but John replied something that soundod very like, "NOT ON YOUR LIFE!" The Speaker went through the usual formula of tvyin* to Impress upon the offender the helnouanen« of hl» act, and of oxpresulns th«> hope that now he had had time to eonatdi-r his words fully he would withdraw the eaine and express regret Mr. Payne replied: Tho thing is absolutely so dastardly that under tho circumstances I refuse to mako any withdrawal. The member for Gray Lynn was proceeding to fisnko further remarks when the Speaker told him he must not do r»o. but miiftt withdraw from the chamber while lil» case was being considered. Mr. Payne withdrew. Sir Joseph then moved: "That the member for Grey Lynn bo xuHpandod for the remainder of the uittlnir." He thought that would be ample, as he tfldn'i want to "martyrise" him. Whvn Sir Joseph Ward nut down, H. A. Wright rose, but whether he was going to move that Mr. Puyno bo HANGED. PRAWN AND QUARTERED. or merely suspended by the neck till he was dead, or In nome other wt»y effectively and finally disposed of, will never t»o known. i\» hf wu* informed that by tho rules or the 11uiuk\ which hi' ought tv know, there could hv no discussion. The .Scrgftint-at-Arms wus instructed to "ucquuinl Ota member for Qr«y Lynn of the decision of tho Mouse." "What camo >v out for to nee? A re<ul ahukuu by thw wind,"