AN EDITOR AT THE BAR OF PARLIAMENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2384, 5 November 1880, Page 4

AN EDITOR AT THE BAR OF PARLIAMENT.

Mr James Simpson, the editor of the ‘Hobart Town Mercury,’ appeared at the bar of the Tasmanian Assembly on Friday last to answer a charge of alleged contempt, brought against him by Mr Coote, the member for George Town. Wc gather from the report of the proceedings that Mr Coote, in his place in Parliament, asserted that the ‘ Mercury ’ had refused insertion to certain letters relating to the Sandy Bay rille range, because the views expressed differed from its own, Mr Simpson at the adjournment hour met Mr Coote as he was coming out, and as he asserts, in a friendly spirit told him he had made a great mistake in stating that the ‘Mercury’ had refused to publish several letters, and requested him to make the necessary correction in the House later in the evening. Mr Coote replied that the letters were sent and refused insertion, and declined to accept Mr Simpson’s repeated denial. According to Air Coote, “ During this time Mr Gellibrand (another member) was between us, saying, ‘Don’t don’t strike; make it up,’ or words to that effect. All this time he (Mr Simpson) was in a way threatening me. I asked, ‘ Why do you insult me in this way?’ I asked him this twice, rather loudly. I then said, ‘ I will never withdraw my statements; you may go to the devil, and the “ Mercury” too.’ He then said ‘Mr Coote, if that statement had been made in any other court in this country but in this House of Parliament, I would have knocked such a person down in the street.’ I then said (and these were my last words to him), ‘Air Simpson, if I had not known you so well, I should certainly say you were drunk.’ Mr Simpson then walked away with the hon. member for llingwood.” Mr Simpson when called upon for his version of the occurrence,denied that he spoke in heat, but he admitted that after Air Coote had repeatedly refused to accept his word and remarked to him, “ You have now told me several times what is tantamount to calling me a deliberate liar, and if you dare to do so when further from the precincts of the Parliament I would knock you down with my stick,” which he then held in his band. Mr Coote did repeat his statement but instead of striking him Mr Simpson turned to go away. Mr Simpson’s version was substantially corroborated by Mr Gellibrand, who was quite sure that Air Simpson had neither directly or indirectly done anything to show that he was going to assault Mr Coote. The Colonial Treasurer thereupon moved : —“ That in the opinion of this House the conduct of Air James Simpson does not amount to contempt of this House of Parliament.” The Attorney-General seconded the motion, which was agreed to without a division. Mr Simpson having been recalled, the Speaker said the House, having entered into a consideration of the question, had decided that the conduct did not amount to contempt. At the same time he felt it his duty, as Speaker of the House, to point out" to Air Simpson and to the the country, that if there was any question likely to lead to altercation between those wlio were not members of the House and those who were, it was very improper to meet at the place of egress from the House. Such matters should not be taken up within the precincts of Parliament.