MR D. MCLAREN ANNOYED

Southland Times, Issue 16839, 15 September 1911, Page 5

MR D. MCLAREN ANNOYED

SUGGESTED BREACH OP PBITZUEtfS THE “DOMINION’S" CRITICISM. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 14. There were threats of “breach of privilege” in the Rouse this afternoon. Mr McLaren, speaking with obvious feeling, asked the guidance of the Speaker as to whether a newspaper had a right to Impute mercenary motives to a member in the fulfilment of his public duty, How far could a newspaper go in that direction ? The article of which he complained (from the “Dominion”) was, he declared, one long tirade of abuse. The article throughout clearly referred to himself and said : “It would appear that the leaders of organised labour are growing anxious Jest the trade of quarrelling should languish to the point of threatening their N bread and butter.” The Imputation, said Mr McLaren, was that he was acting from mercenary motives, and he submitted that that was not criticism of a man’s political views or actions but a gross, vulgar, personal attack. He considered that members of the House had a right to be in some, way protected from scurrilous abuse of that kind. He submitted that his character was as much to be respected as that of any man in this country, and he wanted the Speaker’s guidance as to whether the article was not a breach of privilege in that it imputed a motive of a low character t6 him In the fulfilment of his public duty. It was an attack on bis wife and those dependent upon him, and he resented it to the fullest because it was a dirty contemptible thing to have motives of a low character such, as this imputed to a man who differed from the newspaper only in matters of . opinion. . Mr Speaker said he had .not read the article, but he had no hesitation in saying that a motion declaring it a breach of privilege would be in order. It was for the House then to say whether a breach of privilege had been committed, and if the, hon. member wished ta test the feeling of the 1 House"he could move in that direction. ' He must first move that the paragraph complained of be read by the clerk .of the House. Mr McLaren ; “I move that the paragraph be read by the clerk of the House." Sir Joseph Ward suggested to Mr McLaren that he was taking an unwise course, although he (Sir Joseph) appreciated his feelings. Mr McLaren thereupon said that ha would not move anything ; he would take other means of dealing with the matter outside the House.