SUSPENDED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2827, 19 July 1916, Page 6

SUSPENDED

SCENE IN PARLIAMENT

MR. PAYNE IN TROUBLE USE OF OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE. While the House was considering ccrtuin amendments introduced to the Land and Income Tax Bill last evening, Mr. J. Payne, member lor Grey Lynn, declaimed at great length against >tlie issue of war debentures being freo Ironi incoma tax. This idea, ho said, was in tho interests of the'big financial institutions, which lie designated as "ungodly vultures." Any Minister who would support such a proposition was, ho considered, one of the biggest traitors to the British Hmpiie. The Speaker: The lion, member must withdraw that expression. Mr. Payne: I absolutely refuse. I brand the -Minister of finance as a traitor to this country. The Speaker: Will the lion, member resumo his seat? Mr. Payne: I Dover saw anything so damnable in all my life. ■ Th Speaker: The hon. member must not use such language. I must name hini if lie disregards tho ruling of tho Chair. Mr. Payne: I will take my stand beforo the country. The Speaker: Does the lion, member refuse to withdraw and express regret? Mr. Payne: I certainly do. I would rather go out of Parliament. The Speaker: Then the hon. member will withdraw from the Chamber. Mr. Payne walked out with a bundle of papers under his arm. Sir Joseph. AVard: I must ask the Houso to conform to its own rules. . I want to say that I hnve no feeling in this mat-' ter. It is 110 concern, of mine what a member's opinion of mo may be, but we must enforce respcct for our rules. "No," he said;in response to a suggestion, "I have no objection to giving mm another chance." The Speaker: I already gave him a chance of u;ithdrawing before leaving tho Chamber, but I will ask him to return and give Mm another chance. Mr. Payno was asked to re-enter tho Chamber. The Speaker: I have to inform the hon. member that tho members of the Houso have decided to give him another chanco to withdraw the words that the members regard as offensive. Tho lion, member will realise that he probably used tho words in a time of heat, and on calm consideration ho will, T. am sure, do the right thing and withdraw these words. Mr. Payne (speaking very rapidly and. hoarsely): The thing is absolutely su dastardly that I refuse to withdraw under any circumstances. Tho Speaker: The hon. member cannot make any statement. It ho refuses withdraw lie will again leave the Chamber while tho Houso considers the question. , ' ■. Mr. Payne: Very well. After'the member for Grey Lynn had left the Chamber, Sir Joseph Ward said: "In the absence of the Prime Minister, I riso with regret to ask tho House to enforce Standing 'Orders 178 and 179, and to move that the member for Grey Lynn be suspended for tho remainder of the sitting." A voice: Is that all? Sir Joseph "Ward: t think that is sufficient. My own feeling is that we don't want to m'artyriso the member for Grey Lynn. Wo can do no more than express our opinion in the way I have indicated. The motion of suspension n;as carried by a quiet House.