N.S.W. PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 26 March 1912, Page 3

N.S.W. PARLIAMENT.

BOWDLERISING OF "HANSARD." OPPOSITION MEMHEKS REMOVED. There was elettricitv in the atmosphere of (he New Koulli Wales Legislative Assembly recently, which ultimately culminated in the removal of two members of the Opposition (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"), 'that body, evidently snriHin;,' at tin: legislotion-by-exh.iustion tactics pursued by the K.ivtni'iient during the past week, iurced Hit? light-ill}: Hum ihe start with a volley of (|iie--t.iuns on contention*—and, in some ca-es-, highly vexatious—C|iiestions, in which the present conduct of Hansird naturally occupied x.uie prominence. Dr. Ailhur opened by a.-lcini; what had become if the compact by which the House, was to 'have closed 'down at 11 o'clock at night, but no answer was forthcoming, the Speaker stating that the ijuestion was out of order.

Later on, the Speaker, in railing upon Mr. Henley, ilesivetl it to be understood thai members who made offensive remarks to the Chair must be noticed. The Chair was not. to be treated impudently, and in that respect a duly devolved upon the leader of the Opposition. lie (the Speaker) would decline to recoguise any hou. member on the Opposition side of the House who rote am! put cjuestious that should be dealt with by the leader of the Opposition.

Mr. .lioyle asked if, in view of the worncut state of the House and its officers, the Sneaker would, at the conclusion of. the sitting, close the House and arrange that only ono officer should remain on the door.

The Speaker: Tho Speaker has no control over the business of Parliament; the House controls its own business.

Mr. Cohen: Will you withdraw the instructions from Hansard in reference to the reporting of Committee, as most important criticisms have been excised from the deb.it??

The Speaker: Hansard is carrying out its duties efficiently ami satisfactorily.

Mr. Wade: Has" your attention been drawn to a statement made by tho Minister for Works, which he , was compelled to withdraw and apMojiso for, and which dees not appear in Hansard?

The Speaker: What has been said by a Minister, I feel no instructions have been issued to the contrary—lias been reported. I havo no reason to buliove that anything said by a Minister has been curtailed. I have no reason to think "Hansard" has altered a rule that has prevailed so long. What is said by n responsible Minister should be reported, and .1 believe "Hansard" is absolutely correct.

Mr. Wade: "Will you be R-eod er.oiigh to call upon "Hansard" to cxpUtin why (he statement made by the Minister for Works on Friday night hes not been reported ?

The Speaker: Order. If the lien, member has anything to say, he h:'.d betior communicate with me or table a mciion. I have said that I believed "Jbnsard" is absolutely correct. If n.rmbers talk at a very gre.it rate something i:iay be omitted. Such a thing as a verbatim report has never occurred nv.iro than 0:1 c- :, in my experience, and that once was when I made fomi 1 rcniiirl;* myself aft or an 1:1tcrjci'tion. The inlprjoctioji was left .out by the direction of Mr. Kobiuson, and tho obprrv.iiioiis I made, woro not connected. Tliat is lii? only occasion on which there was a. verbatim report since I havs been a member. The ordinary course is taken by which lion, members' speeches are construed.

Mr. Fiii:patrick (ironically): Mr. Kobinsfii ou"iit to have been boiled in oil.

Mr. Kelly: Is it not a fact that each nirmbi-r h;'.s a right to a copy of his spcci-h, ami has ','hc rigiit to make alterations-

Thf Speaker: Every hon. member has rc: , oiv.- , d a copy of his speoth. ]t is im)>:)s'ililo t;> luivc an incorrrct report at. the pi-.'sei-.L liv.ic. Tluve is an opiwrhuiity tiMpalia tin , roport cori'Pei". and lion, members have taken occa.-ion to ilo fo.

Mr. Wade: 1. df.v-ire to a.-lc the Ministor fur V\"or!-;s wlietlior it was by his instructions that Iho oß'e-.-.sivp. words he used lust: Friday night have not been put inh> '-'Hansard"

The Suenker: This is the second time that the' hon. member for Gordon has been out of order. IT? stands in Ihn same position as any other hon. member, and it devolves upon liini to support t!i:! Chair. He has neglected to do m> ever sinco r have been here. For the second time the leader <:f the Opposition is deliberately cut of order. (Uproar and cries of'"Put him out, then!")

Mr. Watl: , -. I luvvo- never been intentionallv out of older.

Sir. Filzpatrick: He knows it. Dr. Arthur: It is sciindalons.

The Speaker: fc'ergennl-r.t-Aviin, removo the hon. n-cii'.ber (or Harbour.

Dr. Arthur proceeded to leave the Chamber as tho Serjjeaiit-;u-Anns advanced amidst shouts of p out," "Be removed; it will give him move pleasure."

The Speaker: The hon. members for Petersham (-Mr. Calien) and Orange (Mr. Vil'.pali'ick) havo exceeded the imiiib-.T of times they may bo called to order.

Mr. Wood: !. de-ire to ail; whether the ruling you have just given with regard to questions from this side of Ihe House--that members can only ask questions with the consent of the Leader of the Opposition

The Speaker: The hon. member had belter lab!? a motion.

Mr. Wood: What .[ desire to ask is, if members on this side oi' the House can only ask questions with the consent of tho T.eader of the Opposition, docs that apply lo the Government side?

The Speaker ruled the lion, member out of order, and directed him to resume his scat.

At a later stage, when Mr. Cohen was speaking en the third reading of the Income Tax Bill, he took exception to tiie Minister, with absolutely 110 knowledge of It-gal interpretations of the terms, disregarding the warning of legal members that the Bill was not at all clear, even to le:;al minds.

The Speaker said that the hon. member had made an offensive reference to the Minister.

Mr. Cohen: I deny that I have mad« an offensive remark.

Tlio Speaker: I tell the honourable member he has been offensive, and he must withdraw tho remark.

Mr. Cohen: If you tell mo what offence I committed I will withdraw it.

The Speaker: The honourable member should know what he said.

Mr. Cohen: I give you my word as a man that I know of no offensive observation; if you tell me what I did say I will 1)0 very glad to withdraw. The Speaker: The honourable member evidently did not know what he was sayiflfv Mr. Fitzpatrick (to Mr. Cohen): That is offensive. Mr. Cohen: Thank you for your offensive language. The Speaker: Sergeant, remove the honourable member for Petersham. Mr. Cohen retired gracefully, saying: I repeat again, sir, thank you for your offensive language. The debate then proceeded.