A BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 53

A BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

REV. DR GIBB FOUND GUILTY.

(Feom-Otte Own Correspondent.) .WELLINGTON, September 1. The House wasted a good deal of- time to-day over a breach of privilege question. The breach of privilege consisted of letters written to Messrs "'Rutherford and Witty by the Rev. Dr Gibb in connection with tlieir attitude on the Bible-in-schools question. These letters are given in full by the Press Association, so need not be repeated here. The Premier said he deeply regretted the necessity for moving that a breach of privilege had been committed, but it wa.s his duty to do so. — Sir William Russell, Mr Duthie, and others doubted whether there wap. any breach of privilege in the letters, and characterised the matter as trivial in the extreme. — Mr Rutherford, speaking with some heat, said the StandingOrders would not permit of his using language sufficiently strong to express his feelings in the matter. He characterised Dr Gibb's action as "the arrogance of an intolerant, religious bounder." — (Sensation, and cries of "Oh! Oh!") Dr Gibb, ho j added, could send his agent into his (Mr Rutherford's) district, and do the worst he could. If his electors did not want him then they could choose someone else. "This man," "he said, again referring to Dr Gibb, "ought to have lived 200 or 300 years ago. In that case he would have been found tying them up to the stake, as his Presbyterian ancestors had done. An Act of Parliament should be passed to prevent such people from writing J>o (A Voice : "Timid —men."— Laughter.) — Mr Rutherford: To members of Parliament. — {Mora laughter.) Persons such a3 these should be xbrought under the first clause of .the Noxious "•Weeds Act. The country had a- great deal too many of these political parsons. Theywere the curse of this country and of every other country.— Mr Witty said if they, allowed these men to rule it would mean that they would be going back to the dark ages. " Lord help those," he said, " who are under such men as this so-called Dr Gibb." He for one would sooner leave piib'lic life and beg for his bread- and his ! children's bread rather than be dominated ' over by a man like Dr Gibb. " Sir," he i said, " we ar* simply going to be ruled by fanatics — (Cries of "No!") — if we are to allow such men as ho to have their way. He is supposed to teach religion and goodwill, but instead of that he is stirring up strife."— Mr Rutherford: He is a regular clerical bounder.— (" Oh ! Oh!")— Mr Witty: . " Yes, as my friend says, a regular clerical bounder." — Mr Massey rose to protest. He portested strongly at their wasting the time of the House over such a trivial matter. — Mr Seddon said there had been a menace. — (Laughter.) Mr Massey: I don't think there has, and I don't believe that such was intended by Dr Gibb. — In order to stop the discussion, Mr Mas Fey moved the previous question. The carrying of such a motion would have ended the matter, but on a division it was lost by 29 ayes (mostly Opposition) to 36. The Speaker (without further debate) had then" to put Mr Seddon's motion that a, bre-ach of privilege had baen committed, and this the Government managed .to carry by 37' to 27. Mr Seddon then " intimated that he did not intend to proceed further in the matter. Mr Massey ro~>3 to speak, and tn put himself in order moved that the breach of privilege committed was so slight that it was not worthy of notice. He said Mr Saddon would have, been consulting his own dignity and the dignity of Parliament if he had ignored so trivial a matter.— (" Hear, hear.")i ■ He contended that there was neither menace nor threat in the letters. Even granted that a breach had been committed, it was the most trivial he had known in his 12 sessions of Parliament. Mr Seddon still contended that the breach of privilege committed was a very serious one.— (Laughter.) Mr Hardy: Then, why don't you proceed further if it is a serious matter. The discussion was continued until the dinner adjournment, and resumed on the reassembling of members at 7.30. — Mr Bedford chaffed Messrs Rutherford and Witty. If they had been New Liberals during the past few weeks they might have some cause for complaint. — Mr Rutherford: What about the thousand pounds and poor old Twoomey.— (Laughter.) You go for the dollars every time.— (Laughter.) The debate was ended at 8 p.m. by Mr Wilford moving the previous question. This was carried by 37 to 31. The general impression is that the Government made a tactical blunder in bringing the- matter tip at all.