SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 73

SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

* MR WILFORD IN TROUBLE. A CALM ENDING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 18. The most remarkab'e and sensational scene of'the session occurred this evening. For quite a little time there seemed all the elements of a very big “ row,” possibly ending with the ejectment or censure of a member for disorderliness. The scene occurred while the Prime Minister was making a statement to the House about the work of the session. He was working through the Order Paper, indicating what measures the Government intended still to proceed with. One measure, he said, related to giving £25,000 yearly to the fruit-growers to’ provide a cold store lor fruit. At this . Mr Wilford interrupted. “ Would that riot be nicer in election year?’’ he asked. To this Mr Massey good-humouredly replied : “ We don’t do that sort of thing. That was in the old days when you were on the Treasury Benches, but we don t purchase votes.” Mr Wilford : •“ I know what you are doing with the Advances Office.” SUGGESTION REPUDIATED. At the suggestion conveyed in this remark Mr Massey fired up, and declared that he could not allow that suggestion to pass. “ You cannot say,”, he said to Mr Wilford, “that we are doing anything wrong with it. 1 cliallenge you to do that. 1 cliallenge you lo say what you mean. * Mr Wilford immediately rose to his feet, and remained standing while the House roared “ Sit down !” “ Sit down ! Mr Wilford was heard to say above the din to Mr Massey “ Sit down and 1 will tell you.’’ Mr Massey, however, held the floor by right, and the uproar continued as Mr Wilford persisted on his feet. The Chairman of Committees (Mr Malcolm) was, of course, immediately on hie feet, calling loudly for order. The din was very considerable for a few minutes, but at last Mr Wilford, glaring fiercely at the Government benches the while, resumed his seat. THE CHAIRMAN DEFIED. Then Mr Malcolm rebuked Mr Wilford for having stood up while Mr Massey was speaking. He said he hoped he would not repeat such conduct. It was very disorderly to remain on his feet while another member was speaking. Silence was restored, and the mild storm seemed to have passed. Mr Malcolm resumed his seat and glanced at Mr Massey as an indication for him to speak again. . Before Mr Massey could say a word the Chairman was again on his feet, and the bolt fell. “ 1 heard,” he said, “ the hon. member for Hutt say : “What a lot of nonsense.” 1 will ask him to withdraw that statement, and I will ask him to apologise for it.” Mr Wilford ro.se sharply to Ins feet, and snapped out : “1 decline to do either.” The voice of Mr Malcolm broke the suppressed silence of the House, the Chairman saying : ‘‘ I will ask the clerk to ring fui‘ 1/iiU Sj-HcacLOr. It was a subdued and expectant House when the Speaker entered a few minutes later. Mr Malcolm proceeded to state the case. After outlining the incident he said he had rebuked the member for Hutt for being disorderly. “ The lion, member then, in tones which I could easily hear, said * What a lot of nonsense.’ I ordered

him to withdraw and apologise, but he said ; ‘ I decline to do either.’ ” The Speaker invited Mr'Wilford to present his case. “All I have to say,” said Mr Wilford, “ is I never made the remark addressed to the chair. I addressed it to Dr Te Rangihiroa. I said to him that Mr Massey was repeating nonsense, and Dr Te Rangihiroa will bear me out.” As the Government members caught the gist of the explanation there were very audible murmurs of dissent and even uproar. The Speaker called for Order. “ Surely,” said Mr Wilford with his best sarcastic voice, “ hon. members will allow an hon. member to defend himself. 1 take not the slightest notice of what the members there may say about the matter.” After making his explanation Mr Wilford said he had not made the statement to the Chairman, and so had declined to withdraw it. “And 1 still decline,” he added. Dr Te Rangihiroa rose to say that the member for Hutt most certainly had his face towards him, and addressed his remarks to him. He understood that they were addressed to him, and not to the chair. Mr Malcolm insisted that the case was exactly as he had stated. Mr Wilford first said “ What nonsense,’ 1 and then “ What a lot of nonsense.” His point was that without attempting to justify or explain his action he refused to withdraw or apologise when asked to do so. The Hon. Mr Fisher said he was sitting next to Mr Malcolm as Minister in charge of the Bill. He heard the words distinctly, and they followed the direction of the Chairman to Mr Wilford. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that while the Chairman had followed his duty it was still necessary to take the w r ord of the hon. gentleman that a misunderstanding had arisen. That explanation w r as supported by the hon. member beside him. The Prime Minister explained that he had no observations to make, because he had been unable to hear as he was on hia feet at the time. The Speaker said his task was very difficult. His duty was to uphold the Chairman, but as there was a certain amount of doubt about the statement Mr Wilford : I do not deny the statement. I deny the application to the chair. The Speaker, after further remarks, said he regretted that Mr Wilford had not explained at the time that his remark was not addressed to the *Chairman. Mr Wilford : I did not get much chance. The Speaker : I must rule, therefore, that as it does not affect the chair and was not addressed to the chair l -; Mr Wilford : I have never been guilty of disrespect to the chair. The Speaker : I can only rule that there w>as a mistake, and under the circumstances there can be no disrespect and no censure passed on the member. He therefore declared the House again in. committee, and left the chair. Thus the storm passed. While it lasted it was the most dramatic event of the session so far.