SUSPENDED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2196, 8 July 1914, Page 6

SUSPENDED

MR., PAYNE IS OBDURATE . REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW OFFENSIVE WORDS MR. WEBB HIS ONLY SUPPORTER. The incident in which Mr. John Payne, member for Grey Lynn, was chiefly concerned, occupied tho attention of tlio llouso of Representatives for a few moments yesterday afternoon. In the Ad-tlress-in-lteply 'Dehnto on Friday night Mr. Payne, roforritii* to tho Prime Minister, said: "Ho site tliero by bribery and corruption." Mr. Payne refused to withdraw tlio words, and on tho motion of tlio Prime- Minister they wero "taken down." Mr. Payne, at Mr. Speaker's direction, withdrew from tho Chamber, and Mr. Mnssey moved that tho member for iGrey Lynn bo suspended for the rest of that day's sitting. Mr. Massey agreed, however, at tho request of several Opposition members, to withdraw his motion for tho timo being, and to givo Mr. Payno another opportunity of withdrawing'tho words. Me".Payno had left the precincts of tho House, and therefore could'not bo fount], nntl the matter was adjourned until Tuesday. Withdrawal Must bo First. Yesterday afternoon, immediately after tho House'assembled, Mr. Speaker said: Before I call on petitions, I seo the honourable member for Grev Lynn in'his seat, and 1 havo to inform him that the llouso has decided to nfford him another opportunity of withdrawing certain words used by him in the debate on tho Address-in-ltoply on Friday last. I ask the honourablo 'member if ho is prepared to withdraw tho words. Mr. Payne: I want it to ho clearly understood that my words had no personal rofereiico to Mr. Massey as a private member ef this House. Mr. Speaker: I think tho honournblo member should withdraw tho words first. Mr. Payne: 1 wish to have'another opportunity of explaining: myself. My remarks referred to the Government and to the head of that Government • Mr. Speaker again informed Mr Pavno that he- must in the first instaneo with* draw his words, and withdraw them unreservedly. Mr. Payno: I am quite aware of the fact that the honour and dignity of this llouso must bo upheld; Mr. Sneaker again directed Mr. Payno that before waking any other remarks he must withdraw tho word. Mr. Payne: Under tho circumstances you leavo'me no alternative but to unreservedly refuse to withdraw tlio words. I hnvo niado myself clear on tho point as to what my words meant. Mr. Speaker: I understand tho honourable member refuses to withdraw tbo words? . ± Mr. Payne: Villi nil duo Tcspcct to tho Chair, Sir, absolutely I refuse. Leafior of tho Opposition. , •Sir Joseph Ward (Awarua) said ho thought tho member for Grey Lynn, would be well advised to withdraw tho ■words. "I say so," he continued, "because if '-'ip words 'lip sits there , arc intended to havo n personal npplication to tho Prime Minister, then I think there is no honourable member of the llouso who could, uphold a perianal application of that kind." Mr. MasKcv: Or political? Sir Joseph Ward: "If a charge is made ncainst a Government, that is quite a different thing. That has, Been dono in' tho past repeatedly by different members, and thero i 3 n proper way of doing it, of course. But I want to say to tho member for Grey Lynn that ho should withdraw the words, which aro bound lo bo taken in exactly tho way in which they aro spoken, and not as h> meant them to apply. Rulings in the past havo shown quite clearly that tho intention of words are not what the House has to deal with, but tho j words as \hev are uttered. Tho lion-1 ourablc member will sen that tho words have a personal application, and I would recommend him, if I may be perluitted to do so, that ho would be doing tho proper tlihitt if he wero to withdraw tho words. Speaking for myself I cannot sunport any honourablo menilior of tho House in making a personal ch.irgo kind unless it was a definito charpo in tho form of a resolution, a . ." ' A Last Opportunity. Mr. Speaker: I will givo tho honournblo member for Grey Lynn another opportunity to withdraw tlio words. He must do so unreservedly. Mr. Payne: When tho words wero taken down I endeavoured to mako myself quite clear. ... Mr. Speaker: The honourable member must say whether ho will withdraw tho words or not. no has been given a great many opportunities, nnd ho must not take advantage of them. Mr. Payne: I acain unreservedly tcfuso to withdraw the words. Mr. Speaker then railed upon Mr. Payno lo leavo tho Chamber and ho withdrew. Motion to Suspend. Mr. Massey said that ho regretted that it became, his duty, as 1 . Leader of the Houso, in; consequence of.-tho rev fusal'of the lion. , member -for Grey Lynn to tho words used on Friday evenihr», to movo that the lion, member should bo suspended for tho rcmaindor s of tho sitting. He did not think that the motion required any explanation or elaboration; ho was simply following tho usual custom and adhering to precedent. As far as ho was personally roiicerncd, tlio hon. member was at liberty to uso any words ho cared, with regard to him, as he was quite prepared to deal with that. Hut ho was thinking of the dignity of the House, aifd if those things wero to go on ho would liko to know whero they wero going to draw the lino. (Hear, hear.) Ho sincerely honed that what had taken placo <\n Friday nisjlit, and what had_ taken placo that afternoon, would bo in the minds of tho hon. member.l; for the remainder of the session. Mr. Speaker proceeded to put tho motion, when v Mr. Webb rose to speak. Mr. Speaker: Thero "can bo "rib debato on this iiuestion. "" Mr. Webb resumed his seat/and tho' motion was piit anil enrriod-on tho voices. Mr. Wcbb.bo.ing tho only'member to rail "No!" „ ;;•: Sir Joseph Ward asked if;:tho hon.' member should not be called in and informed of the resolution. "'..''. Mr. Speaker: Ltake it he Sillbo.'iii-' formed by the Sorftoant-nt-Arms. — Sir Joseph War«l: Should you not intimate it to him? Mr. Speaker: That hnR never been done. Mr. Davey snid that in Mr. Kailiau's rase lie was called in nnd told of the resolution passed by the House. Mr. Massey: Tie was not suspended. Plea for Better Order, Mr! Speaker said he wished to take thi. r . opportunity to bring under the nolire of members the question; of. interjections and interruptions. Ho was sure that interjections wero not more frequent than they had been for some time -p.ist, but hon. members ho feltsure would agree that they occurred far too frequently, and that they were highly disorderly mid! contrary to the Standing OrdeiH. No" asked the older members t<i H'l an example to tho younger members ;ukl to refrain from iiitcricctinn. He wished lo point out also thai vrry frequently linn, members were in the habit instead of addressing tho

Chair of addressing members personally, and were in the habil. also of asking questions of other hon. members. This was a practice that enticed interjections. He also would like to point out to tlio younger members that interjections made and not replied to were not inserted in Hansard. There was no excuse lor interjecting continuously beeanso an lion, member was always afforded an opportunity of making a |>orsonal explanation if ho had been misrepresented. Ho rotated that interjections were not worse than formerly, out this was the beginning of a new session, and ho would ask members as far as possiblo to refrain from tlu> practice.