PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2324, 28 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Fill MAY, Aikiust 27. A black list of bankrupt Justices was ordered ; a motion was carried that the Government take steps to close the Wellington cemetery ; the Deceased Person’s Estate Duties Rill was thrown out by 20 to 7 ; and a number of Government measures were passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. IXSUI.AI! SKi'AIIATTO.V. Mr Pyke gave notice that he would move the following amendment on Supply :—ln the opinion of this House it is ’desirable that the Northern and Middle Islands of New Zealand be created into two separate colonies ; that with a view of effecting such separation a Commission be appointed to consider and report on the allocation of the colonial debt and the character of the conditions, subject to which the duties of customs, and postal and telegraphic charges .shall be allotted to each Island ; that a message bo sent to the Legislative Conned, asking their concurrence, and inviting that branch of the Legislature to appoint a Committee to confer with the Committee of this House thereupon. Jilt SI IE HI CAN RESUSCITATED.

On the motion of Mr Sheehan who complained that Ins character had been unfairly assailed the minutes and report of the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Mr A. Clark and the llev \V. dittos, were ordered to be printed.

QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to questions stated that during the recess Government would take into consideration the desirability of increasing the ad valorem duties now imposed on all articles imported which can be manufactured in the colony, with a view of encouraging the growth of colonial industries, A sum of money would be placed on the Supplementary estimates with a view of fostering and developing local industries, and if it passed Government would consider the propriety of allocating a portion of it as a bonus for the first one thousand barrels of cement manufactured in the colony. It was intended to amalgamate post and telegraph oflices whore the combined revenue would pay expenses. The additional rate of tid charged on telegrams sent from or to non-paying ollices would bo rescinded. The appointment and the remuneration to be paid to Mr Carruthers as consulting engineer for the colony was a subject now under consideration. Government had received from the assessor for Christchurch under the Property Assessment Act a letter defending himself from charges made against him in the House, and from what he could sec the whole thing had arisen out of a misunderstanding. The cost of primary, secondary, and University education out of the rents of reserves and public funds, in addition to votes under clause S of ordinary Ustitimates, and clause 9 of the Public Works Estimates, had been £119,022. The cost of the work for protecting the railway to the north of Timaru, including haulage cost, had been £301(5. It was intended to give practical effect to the recommendation of the Colonial Industries Commission on the subject of the conservation of the public forests of the colony.

INSCIJIPTION OF STOCK. The resolutions of the Premier rc the inscription of stock, were negatived on the voices.

Mr Hall said lie hoped the amendment oE the member tor Christchurch would not, under the circumstance, be px-essed. Mr Reader Wood argued that the inscript ion of stock had .secured no real benefit to the colony. On the contrary, lie could look upon it as nothing more than sucking the life blood of tbc colony in the shape of commission to stockbrokers, lie thought the best tiling that could be done was to adopt the amendment.

Mr Hall said the process of inscription would bo only exercised to a limited extent, and lie hoped the mover of the amendment would be content with that assurance. Mr Stevens then consented to withdraw the amendment, and the Chairman left the chair. rUDI.IC WORKS BILL. The Public Works Bill was read a third time and passed. THE TEX TER CENT REDUCTION'S.. Mr Hutchison moved, on the motion for going - into Committee of Supply, that the 10 per cent reduction should not apply to salaries of £loo and under. ilr Bain seconded the motion, which was supported by Messrs Pykc, Seddon, and Murray, and opposed by Messrs Hall and Saunders, who contended that the resolution of the House was explicit, and the present motion was a bid for popularity. Mr Moorhouse said the circumstances of the colony justified at least a third of the civil servants’ dismissal, hut to do so would entail a great amount of misery. What he would suggest, as it was strictly a commercial transaction, was that these men should he put on half pay. He was opposed to the motion. After considerable further dircussion, Mr Speight moved the adjournment of the House, so as to enable members to reply to the aspersions cast upon thorn by Government in the statement that this motion was an attempt at courting cheap popularity. Mr Shriuiski seconded the motion for adjournment. Mr Hutchison designated the statement made by the Premier as absolutely untrue. He had introduced the motion from a sense of duty, and yet the Premier had said that he was in search of cheap popularity. Mr Hutchison’s amendment was then put—Ayes2 l, noes, 112.

The I louse then went into Committee of Supply. Class 1 (Legislative)—ltem, £l-10 clerk to Legislative Council (addition to permanent salary.) Mr Pyke moved that progress be reported. The motion was lost —Ayes, 5 ; nocs 49.

On the question being proposed that the item be struck out the vote were — Ayes, 2b ; nocs, 27. Class 2 —Colonial Secretary, audit ollicc, £Bl-50, was passed. Agent-General's Department, £4090. Mr Reader Wood proposed that the vote be reduced by £IOOO. After discussion the question was put that the vote bo reduced—Ayes, 27 ; uoes, 33. In reply to Mr Swanson Mr Hall said the reduction was one of so great importance that the Government would have to consider carefully what they would do under the circumstances.

In reply to Mr Gisborne, Mr Hall said that the reduction in this case would be in addition to the 10 per cent. Mr Sheehan protested against the reduction, the persons who bad voted against Sir Julius Vogel, three or four yevrs ago had worshipped him and said he was the salvation of the colony. (Cries of “ No.”) Mr Sheehan said, but yes. There were men now voting against him who live years ago swore by him. He (Mr Sheehan) would not ho a party to jump upon a man because bo was outside the House. Those who had drank his champagne and ate his dinners were the men to jump on him. If he came in at that door he could imagine that their tune would be very different. Vi ith all his faults he did good work. They wanted a first-class man in London, and the provision they had made would not secure the services of such a man. There were men voting against him who, but for Vogel, would never have been known.

The vote as reduced was then passed. Vote, Miscellaneous Services,£ll,39s 15s Id. Mr Macandrew moved that the item expenses of printing the transactions of the New Zealand Institute, £-300 be struct out. Lost on the voices.

Mr Whyte moved that the item Expenses of Printing work on the coleoptcra of New Zealand, £43 12s be struck out.

The amendment was not passed. _ Mr Scddou moved that the item Botanical Gardens (four months) £SOO be struck out. This was not pressed, Mr Dick proposed to reduce the item Local Industries, £OSO, by £OO. Agreed to. A SCENE IN THE HOUSE. At 4.30 a.m. Mr Seymour left the chair and it was taken by Dir Kelly. Mr Dyke, on the vote Public Buildings, class 11, objected to the item furniture and fittings for the "Wellington Hospital, £ISOO. Dir George said it was very plain from the state of affairs that it would be quite impossible to go on with the work, lie therefore moved to report progress. The House divided —Ayes 8, Noes 39.

Sir George Grey moved that the chairman leave the chair. It was evident there was no reason for saying the House was not in a lit state to go on. He objected to an adjournment. Dir Pykc said he had not obstructed the business. He felt inclined to say that the Premier had been guilty of impudence. Ho asked a question honestly, and lie had a rigid to ask tin* question. He had waited there the whole night, and ho intended to remain until this vote had been struck out. He would not be told by the Premier that he was trilling with or obstructing the House. The motion for leaving the cliair was put and negatived on the voices. Dir Pykc moved that the item £ISOO Wellington Hospital be struck out— Ayes, i 7 ; nocs. 28. Sir G. Grey said that it was absolutely necessary to report progress. It was evident that there were members who were not in a lit state to go on. Mr 3. T. Pislier hoped they would not meet again until Monday. Mr London said there was every prospect of a quarrel if they attempted to go on. Mr Hall said that it was disgraceful that iiine-lcnllis of Ihe members should he kept there simply to please one or t wo. These two or three, or at least, one member, was not lit to be there, it was a disgrace to the New /calami Legislature that large sums should be voted in lids way. . , . . , Mr Beeves was surprised to hear such remarks from ti e lion, member. He could not be aware of what he was talking about. Hir George Grey said the fact was that such conduct as had been going on showed that the members were not in a lit state to vote away largo sums of money. They had worked for eighteen hours.

Mr Hall said one or two members were simply there to obstruct tbejbusincss.

The motion for reporting progress was put and negatived on the voices, and after further discussion the vote was put and passed. After Sir G-eorgc Grey insisting that the House was not in a lit state to proceed, he moved that progress be reported.

The division resulted in the motion being negatived by a large majority. Mr Pyke called the attention of the Speaker to the fact the member for Hokitika, Mr Scddon, who was present in the House, had not recorded his vote, on being wakened up and challenged. Mr Scddon said he voted against Mr Pyke. Mr Pyke insisted that the vote had been irregularly recorded and in defiance of repeated orders from the chair to resume las scat, persisted in protesting against the manner in which the vote had been recorded. A scone of great disorder ensued, amidst which the remarks of both the acting Chairman and Mr Pyke were wholly inaudible in (he gallery. Mr Pyke was understood to say that lie insisted upon tlic Chairman leaving the chair, and reporting what had transpired to the Speaker. Amidst the utmost possible confusion and disorder, the Chairman left the chair and on the House resuming he reported to the speaker that the bon. member for the Dunstan, had been guilty of disorderly conduct and insubordination, inasmuch as that lie had refused to resume bis scat 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 the Dunstan to afford the House an explanation and apology. Mr Pyke, who was indistinctly heard amidst the aim fusion and uproar that ensued, was understood to otter some explanation or justification of his conduct.

The Speaker, interrupting him, said— It lias been reported to me by the Chairman of Committees that the lion, member for the Dmistan has been guilty of disorderly conduct, lie 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 Tyke again essayed to speak, but although he appeared to speak vehemently his voice was drowned amidst cries of “ apologise,” withdraw,” and the uproar and .general confusion. The Speaker—l have again to ask the lion, member fur the Hnnstan, .Mr Vincent Tyke, if he is prepared to offer an apology for the conduct of which he has been guilty in Committee, and which has been reported to me by the Chairman of Committees f

Mr Tyke —Then I say no ! Xo ! I will not apologise. I have got nothing to apologise for. The Speaker—Then, in that case, the member having been duly challenged, and having refused to apologise for his conduct in Committee, 1 direct that he will at once leave this chamber.

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

After he had withdrawn, .Mr Hall said 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 sot 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 must, however, bear in mind that they had a, duty to discharge, both to themselves and to (he country, and that duty could not be discharged unless they look cognisance of the conduct which had just now been enacted. He would move That this House having taken into consideration the insulting and disorderly conduct manifested by the member for the Dunstan towards a Committee of (lie House and its chairman, and the fact that when challenged by Mr Speaker, in pursuance of his authority, he refused to apologise therefor; this House expresses its disapprobation and censures Mr Pvkc for the same.

In the course of a very animated discussion which ensued outlie mol ion, (he attention of the Speaker was called to the fact that Mr Pyke had taken up his position in the Reporter’s Gallery. The Speaker—Do 1 understand that the hon. member for the Dunstan, who has just been ordered to leave the Chamber is still present in some portion of it ?

Mr Andrews —He is, sir, present in the reporter’s gallery. The Speaker—Sergoant-at-Anns, yon will proceed to the gallery of this House, and it you lind the hon. member for the Dunstan there you will direct him to leave by directions from the Speaker. In duo course that functionary made his appearance in the press gallery, and proceeding to the extreme end of it where Mr Pyke was seated busily employed tracing heiroglyphics on a, sheet of foolscap paper, tapped Mr Tyke gently on the shoulder, when the latter looking up with some surprise and considerable indignation, demanded to know what he meant by assaulting him while he (Mr Pyke) was in the execution of his duty. The Sergeant having delivered the message given to him by the Speaker, Mr Pyke replied as follows : —“ I’ll not go. Keep your hands oIP me, sir, or I’ll have you brought up before the court for an assault. Stand out of this, I am reporting for a newspaper. lam reporter for flic association, (let out of (his, or I’ll have you up for assaulting me.” The Sergeant having withdrawn and reported to the Speaker the state of affairs in the gallery, lie was directed by the Speaker to proceed to the gallery, and if needs be, have Mr Pyke removed by force. The Sergeant paid another visit to the gallery with, on this occasion, his dress coat buttoned to the throat, his wristbands turned up, and two attendants at his heels. The aspect of alfairs was so very alarming that the only oilier occupants of the gallery, two drowsy-looking newspaper reporters, deemed it prudent to take hack seals. On being again challenged, Mr Pyke. who was still busily employing tracing wind appeared to be a scii )-comic sketch of Mr Speaker in his robes, with an equally whimsical reprcscnlation of Cabinet Ministers in dishabille, protested that this was “an unwarranted interference with the -liberties of the press ; and that he was a newspaper reporter on this occasion, reporting for the “ Otago Daily Times.” Sergeant—Come away Mr Pyke and do not make a fool of yourself. Mr Pyke—Take your hands off me. Sir. How dare you come here and interfere with me? I’ll have you punished with the utmost rigor of the law for assaulting me in the execution of my duty.

At this juncture the Sergeant applied some slight force, when Mr Pyke rose to his feet, and facing his antagonist, took a working survey of him from head to foot. When his eye lighted on the buttoned-np coat and wristbands, he appeared to take in the situation at a glance, and, without further resistance, followed the Sergeant and his attendants down stairs.

On again making- 1 1 is appearance on the lloor of the House the Sergeant reported that he had at last succeeded in ejecting Mr Pyke from the gallery. An animated debate then ensued on the motion tabled by Mr Hall which resulted in Mr Pyke being called in, when the Speaker again called upon him to apologise, for his conduct in committee. Mr Pyke replied that bo did not know what lie had to apologise for. In calling- the attention of the chairman to the fact that .Mr Scddon had not voted he sin.ply discharged a duty ho owed to the House and the constituency by whom he had been sent there. If there was anyone to be blamed it was not him but the chairman who persistently called upon him to sit down when ho was calling attention to the above named fact. The Speaker—l liml that you are still unwilling to apologise for your conduct. 1 have power if yon remain refractory cither to order you into the custody of the Sergcant-at-Arms, or else to impose a line upon yon to the extent of TSO. Mr Pyke—l decline to apologise for an offence of which lam perfectly innocent.

The Speaker—Then you will retire,

Mr Pyke then left the chamber. Mr Sheehan said lie blamed the Government very much for what bad taken, place. They had kept members sitting there fur close on 'J I, hours, and it was no wonder that disorder and irregularily arose.

Mr Tolc said that Mr Pykc told him ho did not. mean any disrespect > ) the House, and all ho intended to d ■ 1 < to assert what he considered In be his privilege. He thought'they should bo satisfied with that and allow the subject to drop. He tabled a motion to the effect that the House take no further notice of I lie matter. Mr Hall said he had. listone 1 wT’ ho utmost attention to what had two:, dd by Mr Tyke, and ho had n d hear i a single word that could possibly be emistrned into an expression of regret or apology. He regretted the circumstances as much as anyone could do, but he had no alternative but to insist upon the vote of censure.

Mr fScddon, after detailing the circumstances under which lie recorded h : s vote, said that when the lion, member for the Dnnstanwas ordered to sit down, there was a great noise in the H vise, members calling out “chair."" "sit down,” and making all maim r of noises, It. was quite possible the m nnlicr for the Dunstau did not hear the orders given to him by the Chairman.

-Mr Peeves said the member for (he Dimstamwas quite right not to apologise, and lie was glad to sec he was determined to light it out to the bitter cud. It was not the member for the Dnnslan that was to blame, but the Chairman. He was the only man to he blamed under the circnmslanees, as he had occasioned the whole of the trouble.

The Speaker—l cannot allow you (o censure the Chairman of Committee. You must confine yourself to the member for the .Dunsta.ii.

Mr Peeves—Then I have nothing more to say. Eventually it was agreed that the motion should bo allowed to stand over and that the debate should bo resumed at 7.-” U to-night. The House rose at 3.30 (his morning.