THE PAYNE INCIDENT

Southland Times, Issue 17697, 8 July 1914, Page 5

THE PAYNE INCIDENT

MEMBER FOR GREY LYNX SUSPENDED. OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT DECLINED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, .Inly 7. On the House resuming this afternoon, Mr .1. PAYNE (member for Grey Lynn;, took his seat. The question of his suspension was taken as the first business and Mr Payne was asked if ho proposed to withdraw the words taken down at Friday’s sitting. Mr PAYNE said that he was fully aware that the dignity of the House must he maintained, hut he could not be put in such a position. The SPEAKER: Will the lion, member withdraw or not? Mr PAYNE said that he was left no option but to unreservedly refuse to withdraw. No personal reflection was cgist on Mr Massey. The SPEAKER: T understand that the hon. member refuses to withdraw. Mr PAYNE; That is so. Sir JOSEPH WARD (Leader of the Opposition), urged that Mr Payne be advised and withdraw. The House had dealt vith the words as taken down and not with their intention. Speaking for himself ho would not support any member making such a personal charge unless it was a defined resolution. He urged Mr Payne to look calmly and dispassionately at the question and see the wisdom of withdrawing. The SPEAKER intimated that he would give the member for Grey Lynn another opportunity of withdrawing the words. Mr PAYNE said that ho appreciated very much the efforts to cast oil on troubled waters, but under the circumstances he must unhesitatingly refuse to withdraw the words. The SPEAKER: Will the hon. gentleman withdraw from the Chamber. Mr Payne then left the House. The PRIME MINISTER (Hon. W. F. Massev) moved that the member for Grey Lynn be suspended for the remainder of the (Tuesday’s) sitting. The motion, he said, needed no explanation. Personally he was indifferent to any words used towards him, but he had to think of the House, otherwise it would be impossible to say where to draw the line. Mr P. C. WEBB (Groyl, rose to speak, but was silenced by the Speaker, who informed him that there was no debate on the question. The motion was then put, Mr Webb’s stentorium “No” being the only protest against it. The SPEAKER then declared the hon. member to be suspended for the remainder of the sitting, and then delivered to members a homily on the evils of interjections. The House then proceeded to ordinary business.