"FAT AND GREASY CITIZENS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 14

"FAT AND GREASY CITIZENS

A LITTLE SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

A little "scene" which was really more amusing' than serious, .with: the member for Christchurch ' .East (Dr. Thacker) as the central figure, occurred suddenly and unexpectedly in Parliament on Thursday afternoon. Just prior .to 5.30 p.m., ; the usual hour at: which: the House rises for dinner,' the Inglewood Borough-Endowment and Disposal Bill, a local measure, in charge of Mr. H. J. H, Okey, Taranaki, was under consideration in Committee, and, as _ there _ appeared every prospect of it ■ being quickly disposed of, the Prime, Minister suggested, and the House assented to, an' extension of time over 5.30 .p.m.. Difficulties cropped up, however, and 0 p.m. rapidly. Approached, ■V.'hije members not particularly interest- 1 ed in the Bill got' rather impatient;- ■ In an endeavour to bring matters to a head, Dr. Thacker rose, and suggested that the Bill should be! held over for a year, and using a quotation,: he said that, there was-no doubt the members from Taranaki were "fat'and greasy citizens.". . The Chairman; of Committees at'once , rose to, protest, and ordered .tho member "to withdraw the words, and to. ■apologise.... . . ' , • Dr. Thacker agreed to withdraw the' words. "And apologise," interjected a Government member. * \ ' Dr. Thacker (heiitedly): "I will mot apologise." He did-.not: see', why 'ho should apologise, as he was only quoting Shakespeare. The member. 'repeated hiss refusal to :bhe Cbainnan of Committers, so Mr. Malcolm summoned tho House, and reported the incident to Mr,. Speaker. Addressing tho Speaker, Mr. Malcolm aaid Dr. Thacker had refused to 1 apologise for the words "Tat and ; greasy' citizens," therefore- he had 'called the House together in order to report tlie disorderly conduct. ■ '

Mr. Wilford /(Hutt) said . that the Chairman of Committees had correctly reported tho words, but had-not said that.the member was quoting Shakespeare. He had Withdrawn the words, ond then the Chairman had petulantly ordered him to apologise. ' ' • Members: Order 1

Mr. Speaker said that, the ruling of tho Chairman Jbad to bo obeyed; and, the Prime Minister suggested that the ! member might express regret.. .: Dr. Thicker: If the. Prime Minister Bays it is desirable, and if the words have given offence-—and I did not. use them in'an offensive manner', seeing ..■that.they are aquotation from. "Julius I Caesar" (? As Yon Like It)—I shall certainly express regret, but not apologise. Mr. Speaker: The member must remember that quotations cannot be used against/members, any more than other words. He understood that the words had been withdrawn and regret expressed, so that ended it. The incident then closcd. - It had fclio effect, however, of at once letting the members away to dinner.: