MR PAYNE, M.P., AGAIN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14844, 9 December 1913, Page 8

MR PAYNE, M.P., AGAIN.

"SCANDALOUS STATEMENT.", REFERENCES TO A LADY. . REBUKED BY A MINISTER. (special to "toe tkess.") WELLINGTON, December 8. The member for Grey Lynn this evening gave another illustration of the offensiveness that so often characterises his utterances in Parliament. Ihiring the discussion on the Temporary Employees' Bill, Mr Payne said that he had been informed that ' 'influence' ' was not unknown even in the office of the Public Service Commissioner. Ho said that he had been told that a woman had been appointed to a position as typiste in the Public Service at a. high.salary because she was a friend of one of the Commissioners. He eaid that the salary was £150 a year— higher than the value of the lady's services. He added that he could not vouch for the truth of the statement. "That," he, added, "is my information. If it is wrong lam quite willing to apologiso in the ordinary way." The Hon: A. L. Herdman, when he spoke & few minutes later, administered a well-deserved rebuke to Mr Payne for his "scandalous statement." What he had said was absolutely -unwarrantable and unjustified. "If he had a spark of manliness in his character," added the Minister, "he would rise up and apologise." Mr Russell rose to a point of order, and asked whether the Minister was in order, insinuating that a member of the House was without "a spark of manliness."

Mr Speaker said that the term was not Parliamentary. Sir Herdman: I withdraw the expression, sir. I can quite understand the member for Avon protesting. Mr Russell objected to the use of this remark. Mr Speaker: The hon. gentleman has withdrawn the remark, and that ends the matter. * Mr Russell-; But he proceeded to hurl an innuendo at mc. (Laughter.*, Mr Herdman said that the hon. member for Avon, of course, had a perfect right to stand up as an apologist for the member for Grey Lynn. . Mr Russell: I am not doing anything of the kind. - Mr Herdman went on to refer to the "'baseless" attack on a lady in the Public Service. This lady, he said, was not a" typiste-—she was an expert in her class of work, and hsV( been appointed on account of her special qualifications. "A baseless and Unwarranttable attack," the Minister added, "has been mado on this lady, and it is my duty to protect her." Mr Payne rose to make a personal explanation.' He denied that he had made any chargo against the lady; the charge was against the Public Service Commissioners. He was proceeding to go beyond the bounds of a personal explanation when Mr Speaker called him to order. He continued to transgress the Standing Orders, and was then ordered by Mr Speaker to resume his seat.