A STRANGE COMEDY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 9

A STRANGE COMEDY

FORCED TO A DIVISION.

. After The Dominion went to press yesterday the debate in tho House of Representatives on the Local Railways Bill was concluded.

A curious position arose when the House went to a division. When the Speaker put the question the Oppositionists who had spoken against tho Bill did not give their voices when "Noes' 1 wpro called for, and Mr. Eseott, as ho had intimated that he would, called "No" in order to force a division. Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the Opposition, protested that Mr. Escott had not spoken soon enough, but Mr. Speaker ruled othshviso, and ordered the ringing of tho hell. Sir Joseph Ward said that the effect of this would be that those on his side, of the Houso would vote "deliberately contrary to fact,'.' and also lie. was heard to say, sotto voce, something about "dirty business."

Mr. Payne, who regularly votes against the Government on every conceivable occasion, had given his voico loudly for the yNoes," and ho was appointed to tell with Mr. Escott.

After tbo division was taken, Mr. W. A. Veitcb (Wangauui) raised 'a point of order. Ho-had heard the member for Parnell (Mr. J. S. Dickson) give his voice with tho. "Noes" at the second time of asking, and that afterwards ho had voted with tbo "Ayes." Mr. J. Eayne, what Mr. Veitcb had said, admitted naively that tho membor for Waugamii had asked him to refuse to act as a teller hi order to force Mr. Dickson to vote "No."

Mr. Speaker asked Mr. Dickson, whether he had given his voico as 'was alleged. Mr. Dickson admitted at once that he had, and Mr. Speaker ordered that his vote.be recorded with tho "Noes."

Mr. J. H. Escott also explained his vote, declaring that he hail called ''No" only to forco.a division, and that lie was strongly in favour of tho Bill. Tho Bill was read a second timo by 27 votes to 12.

Following was tlio division list: — • Ayes (27).—1t. F. Bollard, Bradney, Craigie, Fisher, Frasor, Guthrie, Harris, Mine, Hunter, M'wombs, Macdonald, Malcolm, Massov, Nosworthy, Okay, Pearco, .11. 11. lthodos, T. W. Rhodes, Scott, F. H. Smith, Stntham, Syltes, G. M. Thomson. J. 0. Thomson, Wilkinson, Wilson, young'. Noes (12).—Atmoro, Dickson, Escott, Payne, Poland, Rangihiroa, ltobortson, Scddon, Sidey, Voitch, Ward, Witty. Pairs. —Ayes: Allen, Campbell, Herdman, Buiek, Herries, Newman, Anderson, Manclor, Buchanan. Noes: Ngata, Brown, M'Calliim, Isitt. Carroll, Myers, Ell, Colvin, It. M'Keuzio. Tho House rose at 2.30 a.w,