"YOU'RE A GENTLEMAN!"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2205, 18 July 1914, Page 5

"YOU'RE A GENTLEMAN!"

. INCIDENT AT THE '■MUNICIPAL ■ .;■ /'a^''.;•;<.iCONGRESS. :{;:.r : . \; . , ; The concluding- stagesof thei Muni-' cipal Conference were'marred by a somewhat unpleasant incident, in which Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P. (a Wellington delegate), was concerned. 'The portionai, Representation Bill, brought down by;the Hon.'.F. M-. B. Fisher, was briefly discussed without going into any " details,, and among the supporters of : the measure was Mr. Hindmarsh, who asked the conference to support it.- Sev- '..... eral delegates expressed approval of the ,- Bill, and others, inoluding Mr. R. T; ■Michaels (Auckland) and Mr. H.- Baldwin, (Hutt), spoke strongly against it. Mr.'G.. R.."Whiting (Spreydon) said , . that proportional representation had : been found successful in some countries where the second ballot had- been , .tried.'and had failed; It.was quite a' , -Bimple matter to educate the elector to vote preferentially; : .; Mr. Hindmarah's motion was lost on the voices. ' ~■ ' ■ :'.-;■ . -.'.• '. " ■'' ;■■ A little.latar, ; Mr. Hindmarsh'rose, and stated that >the president had been hardly fair in the.manner in which he had put his motion. V . Mr.. Luke: "It wap to the effect that the principle of the Bill be affirmed."' ■ ■■•..---■■-.•:,-.' *■ ,-.-..'.- •• •Mr. Hindmarsh: "But that is not what I moved—l-moved that the Bill be approved." . ; ! ■'','■ ' A voice: "Well, it's the same thing." The President: "Well,- if. it is> the wish of the conference, I will put the question aßain;" ; - . " -. ;. . ■ The question was then piit: "That tho conference approve of the Bill." Tho "Noes" again predominated. Mr. Michaels said something to tho pffect that the cpnfcrence had shown its.good sense. " . , ... - . Mr. Hindmarsh:- , .'lt's fortunate th'nt' your opinion is not worth that!" (snapping his fingers.) . Mr. Michnnls (sarcastically): "You'ro a cp.ntlenian I" <■ , This was the onlv little unpleasantness which occurred right through'the conference, and ore that was regretted hv evervnno present.• •"■-..