MR PAYNE AGAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 54

MR PAYNE AGAIN.

SEVERE REBUKE. (FsOil OCR OWX CORRESPOKDEKT.) WELLINGTON, December 8. The member for Grey Lynn this evening jfave another illustration of the offensiveness that so often characterises his utterances in Parliament. During the discussion on the Temporary Employees Bill Mr Payne said that he had been informed that “ influence ” was not unknown, even in the office of the Public Service Commissioners. Ho said that ho had been told that a ■woman had been appointed to a position as typist in the public service at, a high salary because the was a friend of one of the commissioners. He said that tho salary was £l5O a year higher than tho value of the lady’s services. Ho said that he could not vouch for the truth of the statement. “That,” ho added, “is mv information. If it is wrong I am quite willing to apologise in tho ordinary way.” The lion. A. L. Hcrdman, when ho spoke a few minutes later, administered a wclldesorved rebuke to Mr Payne for hie “scandalous statement,” which the Minister said was absolutely unwarrantable and unjustifiable. “If he had a spark of manliness in hia character,” added Mr Hcrdman, “he would rise up and apologise.” Mr Russell rose to appoint of order, and asked whether tho Minister was in order in insinuating that a member of the House was without “a spark of manliness.” The Speaker said that tho term was not parliamentary. Mr Hcrdman: 1 withdraw the expression, eir. I can quite understand tho member for Avon protesting. Mr Russell objected to the use of this remark. The Speaker: The hon. gentleman has withdrawn the remark, and that ends the matter. Mr Russel!; But he proceeded to hurl an innuendo at me.—(Laughter.) Mr Hcrdman said that the hon. member for Avon, of course, had a perfect right to stand up as an apologist for tho member for Grey Ljnn Mr Russell; 1 am not doing anything of tho kind. Mr Hcrdman went on to refer to the baseless attack on a lady in the public service. The lady was not a typist; sho was an expert in her class of work, and had been appointed on account of her special qualifications. “ A baseless and unwarrantable attack,” the Minister added, "has been made on this lady, and it is my duty to protect her.” Air Payne rose to make a personal explanation. He denied that he had made any charge against the lady; the charge was against the Public Service Commissioners. He was proceeding to go beyond the bounds of a personal explanation when the Speaker called him to order. He continued to transgress the Standing Orders, and was then ordered by tho Speaker to ‘•esunie hia seat.