HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1919, 15 August 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. Toe Honae met-afc 2 30. BBEAOH OF PRIVILEGE. Mr Larnach referred to an Article that recently appeared m the 'New Zealand Herald," In wbloh >as contained a Bourrilous and llbelloaa attack on him. He had recently been oompelled to go to his home m the aoath on acooant of Hint bs m his family. The ertfole la qaestlon had referred to his absence, and said I that it was only an exonse to be away from | Wellington attending to his own affairs. He had been detained In the sooth until a very serious operation had been performed, but on his return he found this article had been published, and as he was leaving New Z3aland shortly for Australia, he felt compelled to bring the matter before the House m order to dear his character. He then moved that the article be toad. The aatlcle was baaed on a question asked m the Boose by Mr Hobbs as to whether Mr Larnaoh was to draw, his honorarium while he Was absent m Australia, , and is was stated m the. paper referred to that Mr Hobbs deserved the thanks' of the colony for bringing the nutter forward. Mr Larnaoh remarked that daring the twelve years he had been m the House he had never drawn his honorarinm when he was away from the country. He theraf ore mwd that, a breach of the House had been committed. Mr Hobbs said that when he had found what was the oauae of Mr Larnaoh'i absence, he at once telegraphed expressing regret that he had brought the mattes up, and he received a. telegram from Mr Larnaoh accepting his apology. He regretted having mentioned Mr Larnaoh'i name, but he intended making further enquiry as to whether other members had not done the same thing. The Premier said that no doubt a gross libel had been published on the member foe Peninsula, He was unable to see bow the House could deal satisfactorily with it, and thought that Mr Larnaeh's obaraoter was too widely 'known t* require jastifioation of this kind. .At the aame time he should be glad to assist the honorable gentlemen In any way that he : thought necessary to dear hit oharaoter. He should suggest, however, that the article should be declared a breach of privilege, and that Mr Larnach should then bring an aotlon against the newspaper. ' A lengthy discussion ensued, after which Mr L«naoh'a motion was carriedon the voiosa, : Mr Lwnach then moved thai the proprletor and publishers of the "New Zealand Herald," Messrs Horton and Wilson (9), be called to the bar of the Honae on Tuesday next. The Premier said that be caw no good to be gained by the proceeding. His experience was that the House had always failed m punishing persons who had offended m this manner. He hoped, therefore, that Mr Larnach would withdraw his amendment. •. ; Sir John Ball, Me Fulton, Mr Baetham, Mr W, P. Reeves, end other members, urged the withdrawal of the motion. Mr Seddon moved that the House express its sympathy with the member for Peninsula, and regret that such unwarranted, untruthful, and libellous assertions respecting him, which reflect on every member^of- the^Jiouaa^should have been made by the newspaper m question. .^ ; Colonel Fraser and Mr Lawry expressed regret that the article had appeared, but exonerated the proprietors from blame m ■ the matter. The motion was agreed to on the voices, and the matter dropped ..-.';.■' ~: 7 QUESTIONS. Replying to question it was! stated that Government hoped to be able to make some proposals for the amelioration of Grown tenants this session ; that there wai no truth m the report that the General Manager of Railways had tendered hia resignation. • The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.