MR. PAYNE SUSPENDED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13427, 8 July 1914, Page 4

MR. PAYNE SUSPENDED.

REFUSES TO WITHDRAW.

(From 6ur Parliamentary Reporter.) . WELLINtJTON, this day.. The latest Payne incident, oyer wliich the member for Grey Lyim has siiicb last ( ]|j]iiday .been ..under ■-. the .: :. threat' of Buspehsibn ' uidess . ..ho withdraw s. ..,the. M-ords used, was reopened immediately ( iipoii tlie Hoiisb resuniiiig yesterday afternoon. Members \vei'e more or Teiss prepa^^d for.a.further.sensatioii, biitthe incident^ passed.. through its concluding phase without aiiy, display of _feeling or. of ariytliihg corib*aa-y to the hiost digni-' fied traditions of ' the chambfer. Mi.Payne, , though . stronigly ; ad\*ised to do bo by the leader of the Opposition, stubbornly. refused to withdraw, the p,bnoxioiis words, and was accordingly, suspended for the day's sitting.* Tho matter was re-opened upon the member for Grey Lynn entering the Chamber, . , by . Mr . Si^eaker saying : ' 'I . have to ' i ii f orjni . the ,JxbX\. memb er : f or GTey/Lymi tli_at,;the Hbjiise luis .decided to g\ye^iin ahoj-her opportunity .to."withdraw*"-, certain words used m debate last Friday;".:. ' .y,'.,:.y^^ . ,- . ' Mi ; Pay no : I want it .tp, ; be i ; q uito clearly uhderstbbd,; Mr. Speaker, tliat my words ha,d Jiio -reference,. ;to j*Mlv: Mttssey m his. capacity as ■ a ;private mfembet of this tiouse,,. r . '^^-- " Mr Speaker: Yes, but the hon. member must withdraw _ his words before making any explanation. ; \ "Sir," returiied Mr Payne, "I just want ts. mtsLe it..c)ear. I;don'*t-want;,to, say aiiythin^ "J Except , .tliat JVL* Massey as liead of tne Government— "■ '^ * , Mr Speaker: The hop. niemher^must say immediately wlietliet ho \risliCs to, Withdraw the Words; ' t v V Ma- Payne t- I dm': fully -aware; sir, of the fact, that the dignity and honor of this Hpuse. mjist*>Jbe' . upheld. *. Mr; j Si^^ef^.Hpeaj the^lion. member intend tcf withdraw the wprds ? .*■..,_,-. Mr Pftyne-t -'T'- ihsolotely _ d ec n ," e - Under tlie^ circumstances I refttse-.tbHvitli-draw. the j.words : , I; , have ; ,used.: '. ) Mr Speaker* % hay^. already^sajd J[. d i( i P9& : intend "any pe^-sorial reneptionV on the. Prime Minister. ''"'",','' i.- t . Mr Speaker : I hiid'etstind. then, that the hon. member refuses; i,tp.. withdraw ? Mr Payne: With due respect to theichair, sir, I absolutely -decUne. SIR JOSEPH- WARD'-S ABVIGE.

, Sir Joseph Ward interposed to explain that j*ltVougl_i he, was not present when the words >\<%? y&&-fa-ty?&X9pd' the- account 'of the-. incident m the newspapers^ and .lie., Considered the . "member for Grey Lynn would be well-advised to withdraw- the "%&ds. "If a 'chai-fee-had been inade,;. against the'- Gbveriimfent^and, of course, that sort of thing;*.has ..been done hefore-^the , -matter could be. "dealt with oii s a different )basis, but i-ul--ings m the past had 'shown clearly that the House had not to consider the intentions,.of the member, but "the actual words Vused. and the ...hon. member niust Bee that his .words. ,musj. l ,be tafcenas iieing a personal application." Therefore he woifld t>c doing, the proper thing to withdraw '• the , words which at present .did certeitto.have a personal.applicatioh. ' "Spe&kihg for, myself,", added Sir Joseph, "I could not support any hon. member of the House m making. a personal cliarge oi that kind, unless it was a defined charge m accordance with the rulings, and m consonance witli due and proper Parliamentary procedure as recognised by the rulings of all.Parliaments of the world. . , .'-.-■'--■" '■;'•' Mr Speaker /f thereuppu announced that lie. would giye\ the member for Grey Lynn ope' ,n>orey opportunity. .."I- must teU him^ however that he must withdraw fhe 'wcAdR unreservedly;" added the Chair*. ;-*m V k ■' . _ : MV Pa_yn&i BuY I appreciate, very •highly- tlfeadyic.e. tendered to me by the leader yei *tae 'Opposition, but at the «ame tiriii I wish to make it quite clear tliat I; decline uiihesitatingly to,withdraw the words. : ~ ■* „. v ,: y *Mr Speaker : Then, will. the hpn. member withdraw from Chamber? Mr Payne immediately left his seat, and walked out' of the Ghambeiv whereupon tho Prime Minister said he regretted, it. became lus duty as leader of the Hbuse/tb move, ".Tliat the hieniber for Gi*v Lynii be suspended for tne remainder off tliis (Tuesday*) sitting;" He was, 1.0 added, simply .. following, the usual QiistOm, and was^adhering to precedent. So lar as he was. personally concerned tlie lion, gehtleihah was welcome to use anY words, political br .personil ■he choose to use. y He -(Mr Massey) was quite prepared to deal with them, but for the dignity of the Hpuse; and if that iort of thing* were allowed to go on he must ask hon. members where they were going to draw tlie liiie. He was quite satisfied that wh&t had takeh place-one Friday night and, 011 tliat (Tuesday) aiternoonwbuld remaiii m the minds for the remainder of the , session,., : ..y, '■- When the motion was put yt#. ( the House Mr Webb's w* t^ e *°. nl y 6ice ' to " •Bay "No." Mr Speaker thereupon instructed the Sergeant-at-Arins to. intimate to_th« member, for Grey Lypn that he coultt hot"; bie .flowed .. tp.t, enter : th6 Chamber again during the fitting- '. " THE INTERACTION HABIT. -...' The affair- closed quietly, with a mild lecture by. Mr Speaker on the subject Of interruptions generally: He did not wish to accuse the present House of being worse' in. this resjiect than former Parliaments, but interruptions were far too frequent, "and they weije liifhly disorderly and .contrary to the _ standuig orders. He asked members, particularly the older ones and leading members, to set an example to the younger members. * Interruptions were frequently the fault of the member addressing the House, as 'Speakers' ofteii addressed themselves tO individuals instead of the Chair, and "thus almost invJted.liVteyjectighs.