A Disturbance in the Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 87, 9 October 1896, Page 2

A Disturbance in the Council.

The generally cold, almost frigid, atmosphere of the Legislative Council suddenly went up in temperature to white heat yesterday. Two of the grave and reverend seigniors, " went for " each other, and for about five minutes the proceedings were uncommonly lively. The Hon E. S. Sbrimski, in opposing the Wages Protection Bill, directed some remarks to one of its supporters, the Hon W. D. Stewart, and excitedly declared that be for bis part was not going to be intimidated by the bon member. Mr Stewart : The bon member says I hold a brief. Ido hold a brief— in the interests of justice. " Justice ! " exclaimed Mr Shrimski, scornfully. Mr Stewart accused Mr Sbrimski of advocating or rejecting measures in which be bad a personal interest, and went on : I owe my position in this Colony to tbe working classes. I was returned on four occasions for the city of Dunedin, and I have always supported measures in tbe interest of tbe working classes who sent me to Parliament, ■which is more than can be said for tbe hon member. Mr Stewart then went ou to say that Mr Shrimski bad sent a telegram of a most disgraceful nature to a Dunedin firm, and be challenged him to read the telegram be had received in reply. Mr Shrimski retorted that he was not afraid to read any telegram. Mr Stewart, he bad said, was keeping a certain clause in the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill, and be understood be was acting as solicitor for a large firm. There was nothing disgracefnl in that. " Question !" interjected Mr Jones. "Mind your own business, sir!" angrily replied Mr Shrimski. " That is my business," commented Mr Jones. But Mr Sbrimski had by this time turned bis attention again to Mr Stewart, and his voice rising, and his face getting redder, he loudly declared that his action towards the working men and tbe poor men would stand out after he was dead and gone, when the action of hon. member would have been forgotten. Mr Stewart read tbe telegram which he stated had been sent by Mr Shrimski to Dunedin, to Brown, Ewing and Co. This message referred to tbe Shops and Shop Assistants Bill. Such a telegram, said Mr Stewart, implied that he was acting traitorously against his clients. This J he added, in a tone of contempt, is the gentleman who tells us that his reputation will go down to posterity. " What about the Bank business ?" cried Mr Sbrimski. " Order, order 1" called several members. " Well," exclaimed Mr Sbrimski, "if he begins at me, I shall let him have it." The Chairman of Committees : I think this discussion has gone far enough. And at once the two members subsided, muttering at each other. Fortunately there was a big bench between them. — Times.