MR PAYNE SUSPENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16120, 8 July 1914, Page 8

MR PAYNE SUSPENDED

REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW WORDS

USED.

ADVICE FROM THE SPEAKER.

(Feom Oca Own Cobbespondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 7.

The incident in which Mr John Payne, member for Grey Lynn, was chiefly concerned occupied tho attention of the Houso of Representatives for a few moments this afternoon. During the. no-opnfideneo debate on Friday night Mr Payno, referring to tho Primo Minister, saad "ho sits thero by bribery and corruption." Mr Payne refused to withdraw the words, and, on tho motion of the Prime Minister, they wore "taken down." Mr Payne, at ih<> Speaker's direction, withdrew from tihe Chamber, and Mr Massey moved that the member for Grey Lynn l>o suspended for the remainder of that day's sitting. Mr Massey agreed, howeror, at tho request of several Opposition members, to withdraw hie motion for tho time being, and to give Mr Poyno another opportunity of withdrawing tho words. Mr Payne had: left tiro prectneta of tho Houso, and therefore could not bo found, and the matter was adjourned until to-day, when tho Houso assembled. wrth full galleries. Tho Speaker, in reopening the subject, explained the .position to Mr Payne, and asked him if ho was prepared to withdraw tihe words. Mr Payne: I want it to be clearly understood that my words had no personal reference to Mr Maesey as a private member of tho House. Tho Speaker: I think the honourable, member should withdraw tho words first " 1 referred to the Government." Mr Payne: I wish to have another opportunity of explaining- myself. My remarks referred to tihe Government, and l to Mr Massey as the head of tho Government. Tho Speaker again informed Mr Payno that he must in the first instance withdraw his words, and withdraw them unreservedly. Mr Payno: I am quite awaro of the fact that tho honour and dignity of this Houso must be UTrheld. At tho same time— — The Speaker again directed Mr Payne that before making any otfier remarks ho must withdraw the words.

Mr Payne: Uader the circuoietances you leave me no alternative but to unreservedly refuse to withdraw the words. I have mado myself clear on the point as to what my words meant I meant no porsonaJ retiection on the Prime Minister personally; 1 applied tihe words to the Government. Tho Speaker: I understand, the honourable member refuses to withdraw the words ? , Mr Payne: Witii all due respect to the Chair, Sir, absolutely I refuse.

ADVICE FROM SIR JOSEPH WARD. The Leader of tho Opposition, (Sir Joseph Ward) said he thought the member for Grey Lynn would be well advised to withdraw the words. "I say so," he continued, "because if the words "he sits there are intended to have a personal application to the Prime Minister, then I tihink there is no hon. member of the House who could uphold a personal application of that kind. Mr Massey: Or political. . Sir Joseph Waxd: If a charge is made against a Government that is quite a different thing, and there is a proper way of doing it; but I want to say to the hon. member for Grey Lynn that he must withdraw tho words, which are bound; to be taken by tho House in exactly toe way in which they axe spoken, and not as he meant them to apply. The hon. member will see tihat the words have a personal application, and I would recommend him to'withdraw bhem. I cannot support any member in making a personal charge of that kind, unless it was a definite charge in the form of a resolution. LAST CHANCE TO WITHDRAW WORDS. The Speaker: I will give the hon member for Grey Lynn another opportunity to withdraw tho words. He must do so unreservedly. * . Mr Payne: When the words were taken down I endeavoured to make myself quite The Speaker: The hon. member must say whether he will withdraw the words or not. He lias been given a great many opportunities, and he must take advantage of them. , Mr Payne: I again unreservedly reruso to withdraw the words. The Speaker then called upon Mr Pnyne to leave-, the Chamber, and ho withdrew.

SUSPENSION OF MR PAYNE,

Mr Massey said that ho regretted that it became his duty, as Leader of tho House, in consequence of the refusal of the member for Grey Lynn to withdraw the words to move that he be suspended" for the remainder of the sittings. Ho was simply following the usual custom in adhering to precedent. As far as he was personally concerned, tho hon. member was at liberty to use any words he cared with regard to him as he waa quite prepared to deal with that- hut ho was" thinking of the diginaty of the House. If this sort of thing was to go on, he would like to know where they were going to draw tho line.—( ' Hear, The Speakerproceedod to put the motion, when Mr Webb (Grey) rose to speak! . The Speaker: There can <be no debate on fchLs question. . Mr Webb resumed his seat, and the motion was nut and carried on tho voices, Mr Webb's bring the only dissentient voice. Sir Joseph Ward aekedi if the hon. member should not bo called in and informed of the resolution. ' The Speaker: I take it he will be. Sir Joseph Ward: Shoukl you not intimate it to him? The Speaker: That 'has never- been done. SPEAKER'S ADVICE TO MEMBERS.

Tho Speaker said it was quite in order what had been ctone. . He wished, ho added, to take this opportunity to bring under tho notice of members the question of interjections and interruptions. The present opportunity was a suitable one. He was sure that interjections were not more frequent than they had been for some time .past; but hon. members, he felt sure, would agree that they occurred far too frequently, and that they were highly disorderly and contrary to the Standing Orders. He asked hon. members to set an example to the younger members, and to refrain from interjections. He wished to point out also that very frequently hon. members were in the habit, instead of addressing tho Chair, of addressing members personally, and were in the habit also of asking **estions of other hon. members. This was a practice that enticed interjections. He also would like to point out to the younger members that inter jectipns made, and not replied to, were not inserted in Hansard. There was no excuse for inter jeetirag continuously, because an hon. member was always afforded an opportunity of making a personal explanation if ho had been. misrepresented. Ho repeated that interjections were not worse than formerly, but this was the start of a .-new session, «nd lie would ask members, as far as possible, to refrain from the proctico. ■