A STONEWALL INCIDENT,

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 9

A STONEWALL INCIDENT,

MEMBER FOR "WaIRAU INDIGNANT. (SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, November 22. It was a sullen and sorrowful House which .graced tho Chamber at.2 o'clock this morning. A score of Government men were reclining ou /their benches in an array of rugs and cushions, vainly wooing slumber, while a vigilant relay of opponents maintained that dreary drip of verbosity which constitutes a stonewall. The circumstances and'the time were favourable for the productions of frayed tempers, and proof of their existence immediately came. Messrs McCallum, Russell, and Ngata at this stage were bearing the brunt of the work. Just after finishing a speech, Mr McCallum rose, and while Mr Ngata replaced him, strolled up tho centre aisle. There something happened. Mr McCallum turned euddenly and darted to his place. POINT OF ORDER. "Mr Chairman," Mr McCallum rapped out in a strained voice, "Tho member for Taumarunui just now said to mo, Are you spying again?" The Acting-Chairman (Mr W, H. D. Bell) pointed out that this did not arise from Mr Ngata'b speech, and therefore that gentleman was entitled to finish his speech. So Mr McCallum sat down to bide his time. It was part of the Opposition tactics, it may be explained, to ''chivvy" the House into wakefulness from time to time by calling attention to "the state of the Souse," whereupon Government members had to waise up and bo counted to maintain the quorum. As Mr Ngata finished, Mr McCallum made his statement to a now interested Chamber. "I was moving along," ho said, "when the member tor Taumarunui said 'Are you spying again ?' I said if you speak to mc like that 1 Trill report you to the chair. He replied, "You are spying again. , " Mr Russell desired that these words should be taken down, but it was pointed out that he could not 6o move. Mr Wilson gave his version as follows: —"I asked Mr McCallum if he was spying. If it hurts his feelings 1 will withdraw it. The second part of his statement is absolutely incorrect." "I distinctly swear," retorted -Mr McCaUnm, with almost fearsome emphasis as he pounded his desk, "I distinctly swear on my oath that after the first words -were used, 1 took a step this way and deliberately turned back and said 'If you speak like that to mc I will report you to tho chairman: 5 Hβ again said, "You are spying." Ho now denies this, and impugns my truUvfnlness. I cannot stand that, and I desire the matter gone into." Mr E. Newman, who sat near to Mr Wilson, toso to throw an unbiased light ou the incident. "I heard," he told the House, "Mr Wilson say 'Are you 'spying?' and I also heard Mr McCallum say something about reporting the words to the chairman of the committee, but I did not hoar Mr Wilson make the second remark."

Mr Dickson similarly testified. Tho Chairman said* that Mr McCallum must accept Mr Wilson's denial. "I. will not accept it." retorted'Mr McCallom. "If they did not hear what he said. 1 heard it."

Tho Chairman declared the incident closed, but Mr MeCalhim stoutly declared 'I am not satisfied; my truthfulness is impugned." The tide of the stonewall, however, swept on. and left Mr McCallum still unsatisfied.