Another Scene in the House

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 27, 20 August 1892, Page 2

Another Scene in the House

Yesterday afternoon, in the House, the Minister of Land's proposal to put a tax on cattle and sheep, and refer same to a committee, was defeated by 35 votes to 22. The Minister declined to go on with (he Bill. Mr Rollesfon said the clause which the Committee had rejected was a very small item compared with the whole Bill, and he could not congratulate the Minister on the stand he had taken up. The Hon Mr McKenzie denied that he had shown any exhibition of temper. The Hon Mr Bailance said that Mr Kollesion made a gr<'at deal of small mutters of that kind. He was surprised at the want of courtesy shown to the Minister of Lands over this matter, and saia it was unprecedented; Mr Hutchison (Whitotarn) said that the Chairman in putting the question from the chair had stated that a tax was to be imposed on sheep and cattle. Mr Rees denied that he had put the question in that way. Mr Hutchison repeated his statement. Mr Eees asked him to withdraw it. Mr Hutchison refused to withdraw, and said he was merely stating it as a matter of fact. Mr Kees then vacated the chair and reported Mr Hutchison's conduct to the Speaker. After several points of order had been raised, the Speaker asked Mr Recs whether he wished to charge the member for Waitotara with disorderly conduct. Mr Eees replied in the affirmative. The Speaker said in that case his duty ended, and it was for the leader of the House to propose some motion. Mr Hutchison then left the Chamber, and several members gave their version of the affair. The Hon Mr Bailance said that the House must come to the conclusion that the authority of the Chair must be up» held. He therefore moved, That the House regrets that Mr Hutchison, member for Waitotara, had been guilty of disorderly conduct in refusing to obey the Chairman of Committees," Sir George Grey said that Mr Hutchison had asked him to read the following statement to the House : — " It having been suggested that an assurance should be given by me that 1 had no desire to defy the authority ot the Chair, I readily give such assurance in addition to what I have already smd." The Hou Mr Bailance then asked leave to withdraw his motion, which was grauted, and the Speaker expressed his ; leasure nt the manner in which the difficulty had been settled. Mr Hutchison was then re-admitted into the Chamber.