A WAGER?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1592, 8 November 1912, Page 6

A WAGER?

.A LUDICROUS INCIDENT. . IN PARLIAMENT. A ludicrous incident occurred in the House of Representatives in, the course of the debate' on Hie report of the Public Accounts Committee On State Guaranteed Advances.- The."Committee-had-, recommended to the House that a .change-lie raado in the personnel of the Advances Board. .••.-■ .:>•.■■••• Mr. R, W. Smith, of Waimarino, was speaking, protesting, vehemently .afainst tfvis..'proposal'.' 'Holding up a pink slip of paper'he said:' "T have, .written out iv cheque for<£sot arid I.am willing.to place jt in your hands, and.these are the-con-dition's: That if the person covering this amount—the Committee is f blind. to bo wrong, then the amount equivalent to this £50 will be paid to the Taihape Hospital; if I am wrong, then the one coverin? this' amount can nominate ' the institution to which my iSSO shall go." Mr.-Herries, amidst laughter, asked whether it was in order for'a member to 'make, a wagei?.in the House.. Was it a.breach of the Gaming Act? .-. • - >■ Mr.. Smith: Ho is squirming One,of .the big .guns'-squir-miiig! .< Mr. Speaker said he, had not heard the exact conditions. Under which the wager was made. Mr. Smith (heatedly): "It makes my blood boil.aud I am fit for anything:. I admire a man «von if is wrong, if he,is a man, but.when he is not; '* man. I detest him and I despise him. My offer is this, sir—and'this will'test the metal of each and nil of those' biased members of this Committee who- have Unfair finding about men whose'hands'were tied." Mf. Smith went on to explain that he wislied'to have the question of. whether or not > the recommendation was .a fair and--, just- one,,. ; aa ' shown by the records .of evidence, sub'mittedito judges of the Supremo Court. Ho added finally: "I do'this with two md' tives—to clear these njen, and to have them .tried by. an unbiased tribunal." He walked- up to Mr.' Speaker, and laid the cheque on Mr, Speaker's desk.. Mr. Anderson: Is it marked? (Laughter.) -■•-.'.■■■ Mr. Hanan: Coyer it. Where are they now? ' " '.'',' '.' . Mr. Speaker: "Unless, the honourable member moves ally amendment I can't acoept this. (Laughter.) Mr. Fisher: I ask whether this document signed by the honourable member in connection with this, debate should not be laid ori'the table, of the. House? , Mr. Speaker: I -Understood the honour* able gentleman to give it into my keeping. (Laughter.) '~' Ah'hon. member: Tou' keep.it!'. Mr. Smith saftt he wanted to force the other side .to admit that they had done a mean and contemptible action, Mr. Herries asked whether this Was Parliamentary language, .Mr. Speaker: Oh no. (To Mr. Smith): Tou must .withdraw it. Mr. Smith: I am sorry it is unparliamentary. Mr. Speaker: Tou must withdraw it. ■ Jlr. Smith: I withdraw it, 6ir. Mr. .Speaker: Ton must restrain your language. . Mr.- Smith, with' the assistance of Mr. Laurenaon, then drafted a new amendment, the Sneaker having declared that the proposal he had made previously would be meaningless as an amendment. .He finally moved: "That effect be not given to the recommendation -until the question at issue has been submitted to a' Supreme Court judge for his decision." Mr. Speaker; That is in order. Mr.- Hunter: T should like to ask your opinion as to the procedure to be adopted to get a Supreme Court judge to decide this, wager. Mr. Speaker: I don't hold' this to be a wager. ' It is merely an,offer made. Mr. Herries: Doesn't' it become a wagei as soon as it is accepted? Mr. Speaker: Oh, no. (Cries of "Oh" and "No" from Opposition members.) Mr. Poland: Is this tho Racing Conference? (Laughter.) Mr. G. Witty seconded tho motion, and the debate went on, arid the uproar oi laughter which had been going on Subsided.. Later, Mr. C.. %. Wilson referred to Mr. Smith's challenge. "The 'skite' of the member for Waimarino, with his £r& cheque!" he said. "Why, he does that on every platform in bis own electorate." An hon. member: The same cheque?