TROUBLE IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 9

TROUBLE IN PARLIAMENT.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT. , MR PAYNE MADE TO APOLO GISE. STRIKE MATTERS DISCUSSED. PLAIN SPEAKING BY MINISYER OF MARINE. Tlic House of Representatives had another Jate sitting yesterday morning. Tiie . matter, beforo tho House was an Imprest Supply Bill, but with one or two exceptions every speaker addressed himself to one phaso or other of tho present industrial.trouble. It was tho first opportunity tho rank and (ilo of members of tho House had had to speaking wliat was in their minds about the strike and the doings 'of strikers and strike leaders, and a considerable number of them availed themselves of tho opportunity. Government members did not hesitate to condemn the strike as a weapon in industrial warfare, and to condemn the anarchical conduct and utterances of tho leaders of the Federation of Labour. The three Socialist members; Messrs Webb, Payne, and 'Robertson,' defended the strikers and their loaders, but, with only one or two exceptions, the members of tho Opposition did nothing moro than to applaud tho Labour men when they accused the Government of some villainy. They did not follow Mr. Fisher's advice of tho previous day, and they did not declare whether they were on tho sido of order or of disorder. Mr. .7. Payne, member for Grey Lynn, was named by Mr. Speaker for disorderly conduct. He nad' been guilty of incessantly making loud interjections.

FEDERATION INDICTED, HONVF. M. B. FISHER. HITS OUT. Tho Hon. F; M. B. Fisher referred to the statement of tho member- for Diinediu Central (which statement was contradicted by Mr. Webb) that officials of the Federation of Labour received as much as £5 per week and a first-class travelling allowance. In support of Mr. Stntham's statement, Mr. Fisher read from tho official report of tho Unity Congress, which appeared in tli» "Maorilaiid AYorkcr," a motion to the effect that no o'fficial of tho Federation of Labojr should receive any moro than £5 per week, with 10s. per day travelling allowances with boat and train fares. Mr. AVcbb: It doesn't say they earn more by being secretaries of other unions. Mr. Fisher: No, but I don't suppose' they would be so inhuman as to refuse it if it was offered to them, Mr. .Payne-: You would grab any old tiling. Mr. Fisher: It is perhaps a good thing in this Houso that we don't grab everything wo want to liavo ago at. Ho next called attention to a paper called "Industrial Unionist," published in Auckland, and quoted from an article headed "Sesame and Lilies," to the effect that certain "gorillas" were about to make a protracted sojourn in tho country. "I am astonished," =nid Mr. Fislier, "that they should call their supporters gorillas."

Mr. AVebb said that the paper quoted attacked'tho Federation, of Labour. ' Mr. Fisher said that ho had taken this paper because, it was headed, "Special Strike; Issue." . "Stand '. Solid . Now." "Labour is on its Trial in.New' , Zealand." Also tho. paper advocated tho policy of tho Federation of Labour. The article stated that 'tho "gorillas" had gono put. with bags,of blackberry and sorrel seeds, two abominable noxious weeds—that it was dastardly, and that farmers' sons.had a perfect right to bludgeon strikers if they wore stronger than tho strikers. He did not think that there .was a.member of tho Houso who would deny the right to strike, hut would the lion, gentleman (Mr. AA'ebb) endorse a 'policy of saying that men should not have tho right to work? Did the members'who represented tho Federation of Labour in tho House endorse tho policy 'of sabotage? Did they endorse the doctrine- that a man should sell his .labour for as high a price as possible aiid givo as little as po's-siblo for it? Did they endorse flip policy that a minority should liavo the right to paralyse industry in order to impose its will upon tho community? Did tliey endorse the inimiction "To Hell with " agreements"? Mr. AA'ebb: You know that wo don't.

Intimidation. Mr. Fisher said there wero men in his electorate who had been born in Wellington, who had homes, and wives -and children, who wore out on' strike, and who wished no*v to go back to work, but dared not do it. Members of their own union, were calling at their houses daily to see whether they wero working or not. If they worked they would be qalled "scabs." Men on strike had called at his office asking him to find employment for them. Ho had said to them: "There is-thc Arbitration Union. You can take work on tho wharves." Those men had replied to him that life would not be worth living 'if they did that. They had-to seek other employment.' ' Mr. Webb: If,they seek other employment they would not. bo called "scabs." Mr. Fisher: The honourable gentleman has put bis foot in it. Ho has admitted that if these men go to work they must not go to their own employment, otherwise they would ■bo called "scabs" and would tic-, subjected to intimidation, i Mr. Webb: They would bo "scabbing." Mr. Fislior said the attitude taken UD by the Fcdoralionists was that although they wore out on strike and there were facilities for going back to work; they were not going back, or allow anyone else to go back. This was monopoly and tyranny of tho worst form. How that principle could be reconciled with the right to work passed the comprehension of any common-sense person. He was convinced that the body of public opinion in Now Zealand was behind the doctrine that no portion of the community was going to bo loloratcd in this attempt to- paralyse the functions of the State.

Mr. Payne Warnsii. Mr. Speaker called upon Mr. Payne to cease interjecting. (Ho had interjeeted at the moment, and had done, so in a loud voice repeatedly.) Mr. Speaker informed Mr. I'ayiie that if he continued his interruptions'he would call upon the honourable member to withdraw from the Chamber, ami would suspend him for the icst of the day's sitting. 511'. Setlrlon: Sprakil'g as a member of. the lTou.se. n-'t a member of the Labour party, I wish to raise a protest against the Minister addressing his remarks to ihosc gentlemen, and inviting interjection. ■Mr. Speaker: While the Minister was looking in that direction I took no notice, but any member of this House must icalise that the altitude the member fur O'rcy T,\un has taken up is decidedly disorderly, ami 1 nm surprised at any honourable Kent lonian taking his part. But I toll the honourable member that if he continues to iiilr-n-;ml he will be suspended for the rest of the day's sitting, and if that is not. sufficient I shall have to name him, and call upon the Leader of the House to take what steps he thinks proper.

Thoso Threats of Sabotago. Mr. Fisher,' continuing, said that the people of the back-bone of the country were not going to submit to sabotage, threats of incendiarism, and of the scattering of the seeds of noxious weeds over their lauds. If the. fanners were driven to extremity they would bo able to protect themselves against these methods. It was all very well for Labour leaders to declare that those doctrines were not the doctrines of the Federation, but they were frequently uttered in public by members of the Federation. "Braak Your Agreements." It was all very well for honourable members to say that a special tribunal should bo set up, and the embarrassment of the whole position put upon the Government to try to bring about an agreement between employers and employees, when the employees openly' declared they wero not going to bo bound by agreements. "To liell with agreements," they said. Mr. Webb: Rot. Mr. Fisher read from a speech by Mr. P. H. Hickey the statement, "Break your agreements. Break them every time it will pay you to do so." Now, when they had'gone out on strike, and done an incalculable amount of harm, it was difficult to believe that they would abide by any agreement made by this special tribunal. The Government had been in a difficult position iu connection with this strike. Tho mon had been offered the Court, and they dc'.clined it.:. They were offered a special tribunal, and they declined it. No onus and no blame could bo thrown on the Administration in connection with the industrial crisis at tho present time. Ho was very glad to say that tho Government had declared for the most important of all points, the supremacy of the State. The question was, whether | Now Zealand was to be governed by tho people or by the Federation of Labour, and tho Government had declared iliat it was to bo governed by tho people. Tho Federation of Labour had found, to their surprise, that the tremendous power that they thought they controlled was not so solid as they supposed. In conclusion, he said that so long as he was a' member of tho Government he was going to try to keep open the markets of the world to tho produce of New Zealand. Mr. W. Nosworthy and Mr. IT. M. Campbell also spoke of the riotous dis : orderly conduct of strikers and mobs in Wellington, and tho policy of sabotage advocated by them.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT. MEMBEK FOR GRKY LYNN AGAIN. It was while Mr.' Campbell was speaking that Mr. .Payne again incurred- tho displeasure of Mr. Speaker for frequent noisy interruptions. Mr. Speaker (addressing Mr. Payne): I have said that I would suspend tho honourable member for tho rest of tho sitting if he continued to interrupt, but now this punishment would bq altogether too light. Now I shall name Mr. John Payne, member for Grey Lynn, for disorderly conduct, and I shall ask the Leader of the Houso to take what steps ho may consider necessary. The Hon. AV. F. Massey: I regrot it is necessary at this, stage of tho session to move in connection with the disorderly conduct of the member for Grey Lynn, whom you have just named. There is only on,o course for me to follow, but' I proposo to be as lenient as possible, under tho circumstances.. I shall move, therefore,, that Mr. John Payne, member for Grey Lynn, bo suspended for tho rest of tho sitting. Mr. Payne rose to speak, and he was permitted to say a word'or, two. but when it die proposed' to make an explanation only, ho was ordered to resume his seat, and, on being informed that it. was not usual in 'such, a case for the member concerned'to ho present while tho motion was under consideration, he left the Chamber.

111'. P. C. Webb, protested against tho motion, for the reason that every speaker on the Government side had turned to faco the Labour benches', putting questions to them, and inviting interjections. Ho thought the motion was'unfair and uncalled for. Mr. Speaker informed the. House that a lvotion if tho kind was usually put without debate. He had allowed a special indulgcuco to the member for Grey, but ho did not wisli the motion to bo discussed. Mr. G. Witty suggested to the Prime Minister that if Mr. Payne, expressed regret t'lie motion should lie withdrawn. • Mr. Massey: I liavo no wish to press the motion to an extreme, but we liavo had far too much of this sort of thing of late, and something will have to be done to stop it. If the member for Grey Lynn will come back and apologise for "his disorderly conduct I will ask the House to allow tho' motion to drop. Mr. Payne was sent I for and when ho entered the Chamber Mr. Speaker informed him of Mr. Massey' s intention. Mr. Pavne: I am suro that on tho occasion when I was pulled up I intended no offence. I think the interjection was misunderstood.

Mr. Speaker: Tho honourable member must not justify his behaviour in any shape or form. Since I liavo been in the House, for over 20 years, I have never known any member so constantly disobey the rulings of tho Chair as tho lionourablo member for Grey Lynn. Tho House is dealing- exceptionally lightly with tho member for Grey Lynn. He must express regret, otherwise other steps will be taken. ilr. Payne: Under the circumstances I express regret for what J. liavo dono and I withdraw the objectionable remarks. ■ Mr. Massey then asked tho leave of tho Houso to" withdraw the motion, and it was withdrawn accordingly. Th 3 Class iWar. Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) deplored the class war preached by tho Federation of Labour, and pointed out that'the utterances of leaders of tho organisation wero not in keeping with the pacific professions of members of tlie House who wero allied with that body. Tho Bill passed through all its stages and the House rose at 4.L5 a.m.