PAIRING AND WHIPPING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10519, 29 July 1910, Page 2

PAIRING AND WHIPPING.

SQUABBLE IN PARLIAMENT. GOVERNMENT LOSES A VOTE. By Telegraph. (From Our Omi Correspondent.) - Wellington, July 28. Mr Speaker's injunction "Lock the doors" prior to the division on Mr Massey's want-of-confidence motion m the House this evening was followed by a palpable difference of opinion on the floor of the House between the Government and Opposition Whips, Messrs JA. G. Ell and C. A. C. Hardy and after the division was announced (41 to 61) ui favor of the Government, Mr Ji.ll rose in explanation. Mr Ell said that during the day Mr T K. Sidey, who had had to leave tor Dunedin that evening to attend the funeral of a relative, had informed him that he was paired with Mr Jas. Allen, hut that gentleman had voted on the other side. Mr Sidey had even informed him that he had arranged the pair with the Opposition Whip, and had certainly gone away under the impression that his vots would be recorded.

Mr Hardy .said that one story was good enough until another was told. In consequence of what he regarded as sharp practice on the part of the Government Whip that afternoon, he had •'one into the lobby in an exceedingly 'angrv state. Mr Sidey had t-ld.him that'ho had to leave for Duneom and. had asked for a pair, stating tnat Mr Allen had offered pair. • ! reinsrkcd," continued Mr Hardy, •thai Mr Allen had not promised thai and 1 could net record it, but 1 oiicrod to • 'Wo him Mr Newman. I made imn understand clearly and distmecly Urn: he was not paired with Mr Alien. Mr J. J?. Arnold said that Mr r-.i'iey had eortainlv toklhini that he v,..s nailed with Mr Allen,■ and had ccrtaimy '■one awav v\ith that impmwii-.'i. " Mr Ha'rdv: 1 made hm'i unilorstaml that he was not paired with Mi -ilu'ii. The Prime Minister arranged a pair with Mr Allen first. Mr Hardy-: No member of the party

wiir~go back on a AY hip. I Mr' All™-. Yesterday Mr bidey spoke to: mo nbo.it liis loavinjr, and I. told him that verv likclv I was going down on I'ridav night. I said i will give you a pair, hut" I must lirst see Uic : > Mr Hardy. I was willing to g;\ e >..:n a pair, and at that meeting I understood 1 was paired, hut ill- Hardy- came to me afterwards and said, "I cannot let you have anything but a live .pair, and' informed me thai; he could not p-air mo until Friday. The 'Prime Minister: I am quite sure that" Mr Ridev told me lie was paired with Mr Allen. Mr H.-mlv m-nte-sted that it was customary to 'take an honorable gontlcmvi's' assurance, and his own had not

been controverted. Mr Mcskcv that Opposition members wlili were present did not usually pair with Government members who were absent. Mr Allen was an honorable man, and if paired would not have voted. ~ .. Mr Ell: Mr Sidey did not mention MiNewman's name. A Voice: Hut Mr Allen admits that he was paired. The matter then dropped.