VIOLENT SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2032, 28 August 1880, Page 2

VIOLENT SCENE IN THE HO USE OF REPRESENTATIVES

[By Telbqbaph.] [pbesb association. 1 The debate, as reported in anothor column, was continued, Mr Hutchinson's amendment being lost by 32 to 21. The House then went into committee. A number of items were parsed. When the item, Agent-General, £4OOO, came on, Mr Keader Wood moved that it be reduced by £IOOO. Mr Sheehan warmly protested against the reduction, and spoke hotly in favi ~f Sir Julius Vogel. Finally the vote as reduoed was passed. After other items had been voted, Mr Seymour at 4.30 a.m. left the chair, and it was taken by Mr Kelly. Shortly after Sir G. Grey said it was quite evident that it would be quite impossible to go on with the work, and he therefore moved to report progress. The House divided—Ayes, 8; Noes, 39. Sir G. Grey then moved that the Ohairma i leave the chair. It was plain that at least one member was not fit to be there. It was a disgrace to the New Zealand Legislature that large sums should be voted in this way. Mr Peeves was surprised to hear Buch remarks from the hon. member. The Hon. J. Hall said one member was certainly not in a fit state, but that was no reason for saying th e House was not in a fit Btate to go on. He objected to adjourn. Mr Pyke said he had not obstructed business. He was inclined to say that the Premier had been guilty of impudence. He had asked a question honestly, and he had a right to ask the question. Ho had waited there the whole night, and he intended to remain until this vote had been struck out. He would not be told by the Premier that he was trifling with or obstructing the House. The motion for leaving the chair was put and negatived on the voices. Mr Pvkb moved that the item £ISOO, Wellington Hospital, be struck out. Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 28. Sir G. Grey—lt was absolutely necessary to report progress. Mr Lundon said there was every prospect of a quarrel if they went on. After further remarks, the motion for reporting progress was negatived on the voices.

The vote was finally put and passed. A number of other votes were then put and passed. Another motion to report progress was defeated, when Mr Pyke called the attention of tho Speaker to the fact that tho member for Hokitika, Mr Seddon, who was present, had not recordod his vote on being awakened up and challenged. Mr Seddon said he voted against Mr Pyke. Mr Pyke intimated that the voto had been irregularly recorded, and in defiance of repeated orders from the chair to resume his seat, persisted in protesting against the manner in which the vote had been recorded.

A scene of great disorder ensued, amidst which the remarks of both acting-chairmav? and Mr Pyke were wholly inaudible in the gallery. Mr Pyke was understood to say that he insisted upon the chairman leaving the chair and reporting what had transpired to the the Speaker. Amidst the utmost possible confusion and disorder tho chairman left the chair, and on the House resuming, he reported to the Speaker that the hon. member for Dunstan had been guilty of disorderly conduot and insubordination, inasmuch as that he had refused to resume his seat in committee after having been repeatedly called upon to do so. The Speaker said he would take cognisance of the report, and called upon the member for Dunstan to afford the House an explanation and apology. Mr Pyke, who was indistinctly heard amidst the confusion and uproar that ensued, was understood to offer some explanation or justification of his conduct.

The Speaker interrupting him—" It has been reported to me by the Chairman of Committees that tho hon. member has been guilty of disorderly conduct, he being a member of this House, while the House was sitting, and I now call upon him to make an explanation and apology for so doing." Mr Pyke again essayed to speak, and although he appeared to Bpeak vehemently his voice was drowned amid cries of " Apologise, withdraw." Uproar and general confusion.

The Speaker—l have again to ask the hon. member for Dunstan, Mr Vincent Pyke, if he is prepared to offer an apology for the conduct of which he has been guilty of in committee, and which has been reported to me by the Chairman of Committee.

Mr Pyke then exclaimed—l say no. I will not apologise. I have got nothing to apologise for.

Speaker—Then in that case the member having been duly challenged, and having refused to apologise for his conduct in cdmmittee, I direct that he will at once leave the chamber.

Mr Pyke then rose, and, in withdrawing, ejaculated in a loud voice something which Bounded like a note of defiance.

After he had withdrawn, the Hon. J. Hall Baid that they must all regret and deplore the painful scene which had just been enacted. The conduct of this House had been outraged, and its authority set at defiance. To him it was a matter for deep regret, and he had not the least doubt but that all present shared with him in that regret. They now had a duty to perform, and must take cognisance of the conduct which had just now been enacted. He should move that " This House having taken into consideration the insulting and disorderly conduct manifested by the member for Dunstan towards the Committeee of the House, and its Chairman, and the fact that when challenged by Mr Speaker, in pursuance of his authority, he had refused to apologise, therefore this House exprossei its disapprobation and censures Mr Pyke for the same."

Au animated discussion ensued, in the course of which the Speaker's attention was called to the fact that Mr Pyke had taken up his position in the reporter's gallery. The SergeantaVArms was then ordered to proceed to the gallery, and direct Mr Pyke to leave. Mr Pyke was found busily employed in making hieroglyphics on a sheet of foolscap paper. The Sergeant then tapped him on the shoulder, when Mr Pyke looked up indignantly, and asked him what he meant by assaulting him while he (Mr Pyke) was in the execution of his duty. The Serjeant delivered his message, when Mr Pyko said, " I'll not go ; keep your hands off me, or I have you brought up before the Court for an assault. Stand out of this ; I'm reporting for a newspaper ; I am reporting for the Association. Get out of this, or I'll have you up for assaulting me." The Sergeant withdrew, and reportod to the Speaker, and was directed to proceed to the reporter's gallery, and, if need be, have Mr Pyke removed by force. The Sergeant buttoned his dress-coat to his throat, and with two attendants returned to the gallery. Mr Pyke appeared then to be makirg a serio-comio sketch of the Speaker in his robes, and another of Cabinet Ministerj in dishabille. He said that the interference was against the liberty of the Press, and that he was reporting for the " Otago Daily Times." Finally, Mr Pyke, after further remonstrances, and taking in the position by seeing the Sergeant ready for action, followed him and his attendants do v- mtuirs. The Sergeant then reported

that he had ejected Mr Pyke from the gallery, and the Hon. John Hall tabled a motion, which resulted in Mr Fyke being called in, when the Speaker again called on him to apologise. Mr Pyke replied that he did not know what he had to apologise for. In calling the attention of the Chairman to the fa6||h»t Mr Seddon;had not voted, he simply discharged a duty he owed to the House »hd his constituency, by whom he had been sent there. 'lf there was anyone to be blamed it was not him. It was the Chairman who persistently called upon him to sit down when he was calling attention to the abovenamed fact. , The Speaker—l find you still unwilling to apologise for your conduct. I have power, if you remain refractory, either to order you into the custody, of the Sergeant-at-Arms or else to impose a fine upon you to the extent of £SO.

Mr Pyke—"l decline to apologise for an offence of which I am perfectly innocent." The Speaker—" Then you will withdraw." Mr Pyke then left the Chamber. Mr Sheehan said he blamed the Government very much for what had taken place. Tbey had kept members sitting there for close on twenty-four hours, and it wai not to be wondered at that disorder and irregularity ensued.

Mr Tole said that Mr Pyke told him he did not mean any disrespect to the House, and all that he intended to do was to assert what he corsidered privilege. He thought they should allow the subject to drop, and tabled a mi t on to that effect.

The Premier had paid the utmost attention to what had been said, but had heard nothing that could be construed into an apology from Mr Pyke. He had ne alternative left but to insist upon the vote of censure.

Mr Seddon detailed the circumstances under which he had recorded his vote.

Mr Reeves was glad 'that Mr Pyke was determined to fight it outjto the bitter end. The Chairman was the ocy man to be blamed. He bad occasioned the whole trouble

The Speaker—l cannot allow you to censure the Chairman of Committees. You must confine yourself to the member for Dunstan.

Mr Beeves—Then I have nothing more to Bay. Eventually, it was agreed the motion Bbould be allowed to stand over, and that the debate should be resumed at 7.30 to-night. The House rose at 8.30 this morning.