A Scene in the House.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1896, Page 2

A Scene in the House.

On the 18th instant a little 4broiHe«^ occnrred in the House It is fbroo^|| readers to decide whether the di/fhii]r||?l of Parliament is being mainUined,w^ij when such license is allowed to mem- lip bere ' ' ' .*& Mr Seddon — Mr Speaker, yon mast t;f| have beard that expression. I ask yo»^V*| whether or not that is a term that^^| should be used j - : - y 'M An Hon Member— What ext>ree- f siont '. ' . \..;i| Mr Seddon— The honorable nupaber . : *v£ stated that the Premier had rbbSed, - the small settlers. #1 C ■'■ *•" Sir R. Stout— Oannc&Jiear. Mr Seddon— We shall W e to get a few syringes for the use of . Sir R; Stout— lt is impossible tq \ hear when everybody is talking "X Mr Seddon — I admit J-hat those on < this side of the House, near where fsie •. honourable the senior member for Wei-* L lington City sits, do a lot of talking. fcsir li. Stout — The honourable member is making a misstatement. Mr Seddon — I desire to know wheth- $ er or not the honourable member is to ijse the term used by him f 1 40 pot .' tdove to take the words down, but I ask that he should withdraw them. He said the Premier of the Colony ' robbed the small settlers of £80,000, and I do not think it is right to allow that expression to go unchallenged. I ask that it should be withdrawn, Mr Buchanan— May I explain, the ' sense in which I used the words! The local bodies have been charged 5 per cent interest upon their loans from Government, 1 per cent of that was to go to a sinking fund, which last yea*. ~- amounted to £85,000. Now the <&- ■ vernment pay only 4 per cent on this | money, and I say distinctly that the j settlers who are by their necessities n compelled to borrow through the local ' bodies are robbed of the 1 per cent \ which the Government has charged in | excess of that they pay themselves, | and which they have wonderfully I seized. , . . f The Deputy-Speaker— l think the '$ word M robbed "is a word likely to give Moffence to honourable members, especi- ;?•• ally as it was applied individually. ; Mr Buchanan — I applied it to the Government. Mr Seddon — The expression was 11 the Premier." ■■- ■ The Deputy-Speaker— l think tbe honourable member should withdraw that. It will be more parliamentary. Captain Russell— The Premier hap no right to get up again. The Deputy-bpeaker— Not unleai you have an explanation to make. ■ ; Captain Russell— You have ruled. ■• •' The Deputy-Speaker— l have ruled, ■ and shall not alter my ruling. Captain Russell — Will yon ■ hear why your ruling is wrong f The Deputy-Speaker— No. ■ Mr Seddon— After the ruling is . r given, an honorable member may explain, I think T : -. The Deputy-Speaker — You are perfectly in order in making an explanation. Mr Seddon — As I understand, it was applied Captain Russell — Is this a point of order or what ? Mr Seddon — A personal explanation. Captain Russell — Surely no personal explanation can be given in the middle of a speech ? The Deputy-Speaker— l Jthink on a point of order be can. Mr Buchanan — The point of order is settled. . I have, as in duty bound, accepted your ruling. The Deputy-Speaker — I rule I shall hear the Premier, who wishes to make a personal explanation. Mr Seddon — I should not bars taken exception had it not been applied to me personally. And I have . < the authority of the senior member for : * Wellington City for statin* that wiiat was done was illegal^ perfectly illegal, vffi^