PARLIAMENTARY IMPERTINENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11773, 28 October 1912, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY IMPERTINENCE.

• ■ (By .Telegraph.) (Parliamentary Correspondent.) * 1 Wellington, October 25. " i Some amusing comment on the recent Ward-Hine incident is given by a correspondent of the Post. Discussing the phrase "a downright piece of impertinence," he remarks that the word '"chou" in. the Chinese language has about half-a-dozen different meanings,, but.^ there are many words in the English dictionary which .have still more numerous sigr nificationa. The word "impertinent" is one of these. • -It means, in the first place, an. interference with what lies beyond one's province, irrevalence, not pertaining to the • matter in hand, tho fa,ct or character of being unsuitable, out of place, a taking of liberty, a want of pertinence, and (according to the Oxford Dictionary) many other interpretation's. It is perhaps half a century now since the late Hon. Sir Chas. Gavan Duffy startled the Victorian House of Representatives by stating that some opponent- of his (Sir Gavan's) had' been ! guilty of impertinence in his reference tohim, and then followed the usual appeal to Mr Speaker, cries of "Order!' and so on. . ■ Sir Gavan Duffy was required to withdraw, which he did. He was brought into the House again and was told that he could explain or make any statement he desired. Very amusing it was to listen to Sir Gavan Duffy's explanation. He said lie had little to explain. Ho had used the word impertinent m its ordered sense, not pertinent to the question under discussion. This explanation settled the business, and Gavan. Duffy, with a cheerful smile, took his seat in the House, but no smile was on the lips of the representatives- of tho people. Thev looked rather foolish, as members of Parliament occasionally do.