AN UNPREOPENTED SCENE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1917, Page 3

AN UNPREOPENTED SCENE

A Member “Counted Out” A remarkable ecene, and one that ia entirely without precedent in the Federal Parliament at any rate, was witnessed in the House of Representatives on December 21. The adjournment of the House until early in the now year hs.d been moved by the Prime Minister, and it was cu the point of being agreed to just before the dinner hoar, when the member for Fawkner, (Mr Hannau) rote to speak. The aim all the afternoon had bean to avoid another sitting in the evening, aad Mr Hannan was urged not to jeopardise the position. Desiring to mast the, convenience of hia fellow members he immediately regamed his seat. Hardly had ha dona so, however, before tba member for Melbourne (Mr Maloney) waa on his feet with a grievance against the Defence Department for its treatment of soldiers on the question‘of pay. From all quarters he wa3 urged to show similar coniideration to nrimbeis, but; the appealj were unheeded. Eventually the Speaker was compelled to adjourn tba House until the usual hour in the evening. When the sitting was resumed there were only two members present in addition to Mr Maloney, rnainbsrs deliberately declining to enter the Chamber and “ make a House ” for him. Two or three others walked ia a minute or two later, and the member for Plenty (Mr Boyd) sarcastically remarked that there «ought to be a quorum to hear “ this important utterance,” This' wai simply an informal method of calling the attention of tks Speaker to the fact that the House was not properly constituted, there not being a quorum of members in attendance. The bells therefore •were rang, but although several members ware just cafaide the Chamber cone of them entered, and when the time limit of three minutes had expired, the Speaker had to declare the Bitting at an end. Even the “Hansard ” reporter then left, and Mr Maloney promptly adopted the extraordinary coarse of directly adureesir g his remarks to a few men in the strangers’ galleries. For tba inoat part his speech was an abuse of the Prime Minister, and he urged them not to forget “ the bounder who haa disgraced the position he occupies.’> The occurrence created some iadigna. tion amongst steadfast supporters of Parliamentary e'iqaette, but, at the same time, it wa3 not without its amusing aspect.