AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1581, 26 October 1912, Page 5

AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT.

PARLIAMENTARY COURTESY, AN OBJECTIONABLE LETTER, HOUSE DECLINES TO HEAH IT. An incident which has few parallels in the history of Parliament occurred yesterday in the House of Jlepresentativcs, when Mr. ]{. M'Callum, member for Wairau, made persistent efforts to secure tho public reading of a letter which, by his own account, contained- gross charges against another member of the Home. Tho matter was first mentioned about ten minutes after the House met in the afternoon. Sir. M'Callmn said that he had received a letter signed W. T. Mason. Uiverlei Farm, Middlomarch, which on the face of it contained a very gross reflection upon tho member for Otago Central. Tho letter reached him at noon, and he wished to bring it before the House as a breach of privilege. The Hon. Mr. Allen: Have you consulted the hon. member? Mr. M'Callum: I was just going to do so. The Hon. Mr. Alien: Had you better not do fo privately? Hon. members: Hear, hear! Mr. M'Callum: The letter is in tho form of a circular, and concerns every member of the House. Mr. Malcolm (Cluthn) said that if tho letter concerned another member it was the duly and privilege of that member to raise the matter. Hon members: Hear, hear! Mr. M.'Callum repeated that every member of tho House was concerned, and he handed the letter to Mr. Speaker. After perusing it, Mr. Speaker said that charges were made against only tho member fcr Otago Central, and, Hint being so, he thought as a matter of courtesy the letter should be referred to that hon. member. (Loud hear, hears.) Whi'lhcv he would accept that direction was a matter for the hon. member for Wairaii to decide. Any member had the right to bring such a mailer before tho House.

Mr. M'Callum said that ho merely wished to obtain the Speaker's ruling, and he would confer with Mr. Scott.

Later, on Iho motio'i to go into Committee of Supply onthe 'Imprest Supply Hill, Mr. M'Gillum again mentioned the leller. lie said that since last speaking ho had consulted the lion, member for Olago Central, and that Mr. Scott mmed to be dillident. about the matter, and had no suggestion to moke. "I feel these things very keenly," continued the member for Wair.ni. II? asked that the letter should bo read by' the clerk, and said that when this had been done ho would leave it to the Prime Minister lo determine whether a breach of privilege had been committed or not, and whether he would set up a committee. Mr.' Jlii'sey: 1 will do nothing of tho sort/ It is a most improper thing. Mr. M'Co.lliiin: 1 have my point, to make, I want in put it on record (hat it is my duty to the Parliament of lliis country

Mr. Harris intervened at this stage to ask whether the lion, msniber was iu order in raiding a question winch did -lot coiKTin hini.-olf, but another member.

Mr. Sneaker. I have ruled that he has ft right to An so, \i \\o Uuwks tV vivoy*' • Mv. Davey said (hat it seemed' hi him (lint the Jion. meuber for Olajp Cent nil was (lie mn;n all'ectod. It should ho left to him In f<iko any action he thought lif.

Mr. M'Calbmi'Sir, \ \\i\\ WA yi» k«:k en mv 'I desire Uw letter vend.

iVr.' Massey •. Mv. Speaker, I wish (o ask ■sow as a. u\attw of order whether thin ietCer can ha re.nl without the comonk ol the House?

Mr. Spc-.ikor: Yes, it can be read with, out tho consent of the House. Unless 11k lion, membe'- assures mo that ho intcndi to move, after tho letter has Ircen road, that a breach of privilege has boon committed, I cannot allow tho letter to be read.

Mr. M'Gillum: I intend to move a breach of privilege motion. Mr. Mnlrolm pointed out that somo person outside might write n letter reflecting en a member and, then induce some person oilier (ban the member concerned 1o have flic M'w nvi'l, with tho iiba of having n slander published. Was that permissible?

Mr. Speakc: Yes, I am sorry to fay that Unit, is so; Any person outsido Parliament having written a letter about a, member, it was open to any other lion, member lo have, the letter read.

Mr. Mnssey asked whether it was possible at that stage to move the previous queslun? Mr Spiukw: I am afinid not, before tho lotor is read, but I think that is open to you to move Hint the House proceed to the next order <i business.

Mr. Mmssey; I move ncecrdingly. I have 1io?n in Parliament tor -a good many years now, but I never hrard of such an incident as this. 1 imvc heard ■members find fault with each other very nftcu bi-cnuse of a breach of courtesy on the part of a member i",i inlorforin;; with nnother member's district, but tin's is tho worst instance that I ever came across. ; If this is to be tolerated it is possible for one man to slander a member in the vilest possible fashion, and to get a member to read that Zander in the lions?. I. sincerely hope th it I his will not be tolerated, mid I move accordingly. The motion (n proceed (o (he next business- was carried on (he voices, 31 r. M'CnlIkm apparently volinir alone against it. Tho letter, which Jie.li.ul handed to Sir. Speaker, was relunied to liim by n messenger. ,(ust prior to (he rising of the House at 1.15 a.m. Mr. li. W. Russell (Avon) gave notice to move that the House dissent: from Mr. Speaker's ruling tbnt a breach of privilege may be superseded by a motion to proceed with tlie next order of business before the letter containing tho alleged breach of privilogo has liectt read.