A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1996, 17 July 1880, Page 4

A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

[Br Tbxbsbaph.] IFBOII OUR OWH COBBESPONDBNT.] WELLINGTON, July 16. There was aa extraordinary acene in the House this evening. Sir G. Grey commenced to speak on the Maori Prisoners Bill, when Boeing that Mr Hall was correcting proofs he objected to go on till the Premier listened. The Premier still went on reading, an Sir G. Grey remained silent. Several members attacked the Premier for taking no notice, but aa faßt aB he finished one proof he started on another. Sir G. Grey, after standing half an hour got a messenger to bring a chair into a passage between the seats and propped himself against the back of it. Innumerable points of order were raised to get over his difficulty, but with no good result. Motions of various kinds wore put but still Sir G. Grey Blood up with folded arms and bowed head, calmly waiting for the Premier to pay attention. Sir G. Grey said he had a duty to perform to the House and country, and until the Premier paid attention he would not go on. While Sir G. Grey was still up, Mr M'Lean pretended to suppose that he had finished, and calmly rose to say a few words on the Bill, but was received with terrific groans from the Opposition, and loud applause from the Government side. The Speaker ordered bim to Bit down, but Mr M'Lean warmly insisted on his right to speak, as no one was speaking. Major Harris moved the adjournment of the debate, but was ruled out of order, os Sir G. Grey had not sat down, and if he dii so would loio his right to speak. Mr Brandon indignantly asked if members were to sit there for half-an-bour. If Sir G. Grey liked to stand silent it was not right that he should keep the House. Mr Reevos said that it was not right for the Premier to do so. Mr Wood pointed out that the O'Donoghue once stood four hours in the House of Commons, and the Speaker had no power to order him to go on or ait down. At this stage Mr Andrews got up to ask if two members could stand on the floor at once, but was howled down by cries of " You make the third," and " Order, order." The Speaker said that Sir G. Grey could now proceed, but Sir George replied that he would stand silent till next day if the Premier was not attentive. Mr Macandrew asked if the House could not adjourn to enable tho Premier to finish his proofs. The Speaker said that the question oould not be put till Sir G. Grey sat down. Mr Reeves said that the Premier instead of correcting his proofs Bhould correct his conduct. Major Harris created immense laughter by asking if all this silence would appear in " Hansard," on which a member suggested that it should be represented by several blank pages. Mr De Lautour wished to know if he could not by the rules move that Sir G. Grey be allowed to sit. The Speaker ruled that the motion could not be put till Sir G. Grey gave way, then he would lose his right to speak. Mr Reeves rose, amid great uproar, to speak, and was peremptorily ordered to Bit down. Mr Johnston drew attention to tho rule relative to the obstruction of the Houae, and members being guilty of contemptuous oonduot by bo doing. The Speaker said that he could not say that Sir G. Grey was obstructing the House. Mr Reeves contended that the Premier was obstructing, not Sir G. Grey. Major Atkinson said that the Premier had been listening all the time, but ono member of the Government represented allj'and the others had been listening too. The Premier had by this time finished his proofs, and commenced to read the Bill. Sir G. Grey hore got a messenger to bring his overcoat and pad the back of his chair with it, and a footstool was soon after brought in. Mr McLean asked if be could not draw attention to strangers being in the gallery, as it was a pity that the public should see tho hon. gentleman standing there making an exhibition of himself. Sir G. Grey asked that those words be taken down. At a quarter to nine tho Speaker asked the House to let him leave the chair for half an hour, which was done. Sir G. Grey had then been standing silently for one hour. The scene was one of intense excitement, and at times tho position was eo ludicrouß that the •whole House broke out in roars of laughter. About a hundred points of order wore raised, and several motions put, but nothing altered the position. Sir G. Grey would not give way, and the Premier remained immovable the whole time. On tho House resuming, Sir Ot. Grey proceeded, expressing the hope that the Premier now would attend, to whioh Mr Hall replied that he had been attending all the time. This second remarkable scene will probably not be the last one of the present session. Another similar dead-lock may arise at any moment.