PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2638, 3 September 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

A SCENE IN THE HOUSE. MR GISBORNE FINED £2O. Wellington, Sept 2. Mr Seymour took the Chair at 730 p.m. He said—Before calling on the business, I desire to mate a statement on the conduct of the business. The Committee has now been sitting 40 hours, and lias negatived on 23 occasions motions for reporting progress or the Chairman leaving the Chair. lam of opinion that the limits of fair discussion have been overstepped on this occasion, and it becomes my duy, as Chairman, in order to uphold the proper conduct of the business of the Committee, to put a stop to (he proceedings which have become obstructive. For the present, therefore, I shall not perni't to he proposed, nor shall I put from the chair any further motion to report progress or to leave the Chair. I shall not allow the rolling I give now to be challenged. Mr Gisborne rose and moved that the Chairman report progress in order that the unprecedented ruling of the Chairman of Committee relative to his procedure in Committee, ma}’ be submitted for the consideration of the House. (Loud cheers and dapping of hands from the “ stonewall ” party.) Tiie Chairman—l may inform the Committee that I shall decline to put this. (Applause from the Ministerial side.) Mr Gisborne rose to speak to his motion when The Chairman said—The hon. gentleman will please speak to the danse under consideration. Mr Gisborne—l shall speak to my motion. (Cheers and cries of “Chair.”) The Chairman —The hon. gentleman will speak to the danse.

Mr Gisborne—l believe I am asserting the privileges of tbe House. (Cheers from the Opposition party) If I am disorderly I wish rny conduct t» be reported to the House. The Chairman—l understand the hon member declines to speak to the danse under discussion ? Mr Gisborne —I do. The Chairman then said he would leave the Chair, and report that the hon member for Totara had been guilty of disorderly conduct. The Chairman having done so, Sir George Grey rose, and was about to speak, when The Speaker in a fierce voice cried —“ Order !” If any member rises when I am on my legs, summary proceedings will be ordered to bo taken. It has been reported that Mr Gisborne, the Member for Totara, has been guilty of disorderly conduct in Committee. I will now afford that hon member an opportunity of explaining his conduct, after which he will withdraw from the Chamber until tbe House deliberates what course it shall pursue with regard to him. Mr Gisborne then explained his reason for what he had done and left the Chamber. Tbe Speaker—l now await the motion requisite for dealing with the hon member under these circumstances. Mr Hall—Then, Sir, I have to move, and I do so with regret —“That the Hon Mr Gisborne, a member of this House, having continued to interrupt the business of this House in Committee, after having been called upon by the Chairman thereof to desist, that he shall be held to have been guilty of contempt.” I would ask yon, Sir, if it will be competent to accept of a resolution affirming the offence, leaving the question of the penalty to be inflicted to be dealt with by a separate resolution afterwards.

The Speaker was understood to reply in the negative. Mr Hall—Then, Sir, I will move the motion I have just read, with the addition insisted upon by you, and that the penalty be £2O. The Speaker-r--The penalty asked for is £2O, not £SO, as provided by the Standing Orders. It is a very light punishment for the offence with which the hon member is charged, but, as this is the first case of the kind, I am not disposed lo interfere. Sir George Grey—l move as an amendment to the motion you have just read —“ That the Hon Mr Gisborne rightly strove to bring under the review of the House the ruling of the Chairman of Committee, which he deemed to be of an unprecedented nature.” Mr Sheehan defended the action taken by Mr Gisborne, and thought he was deserving rather of praise than censure. If it became necessary he would at the proper lime, move that be be fine 1 Is, instead of £2O. Mr Stewart contended that Mr Gis borne had deliberately, with a full knowledge of the consequences, refused to obey the ruling of the Chairman. His very calmness being proof of premeditation, there was no ground for sympathy. Mr Russell said no one could possibly sny Mr Gisborne had intend'd any contempt; he had only sought to have a question of the highest constitutional importance ‘decided by the highest authority, instead of simply by the Chairman.

Mr J. T. Fisher agreed with Mr Eussell. He had Hved under Articles of War and was in favor of discipline, but he denied Mr Gisborne had been guilty of any intentional contempt. Mr Macandrew, with great pain as an old friend and colleague of Mr Gisborne, felt bound to support the Premier’s motion. Whether right or wrung the authority of the Chair must be supported.

Mr Collins said Ins vole would be given against (he hon member for Foiara. He felt that his vote would lose him bis election, but the hon member had broken (he Standing Rules of tins House and had been guilty of a serious offence. Mr Swanson thought there was not a rn-Mi iu the House who thought Mr Gisborne ought to pay a shilling. Mr Wakefield insisted that the member for Toiara had fallen into no trap, but had done what he did from a set purpose and from a full knowledge of its consequences. He would vote for the mot : on of the Premier. At five minutes to 10 the question was put that the Premiers motion stand pait of (lie question, when a division was called—Ayes, 4(1 ; Noes, 27. Motion canied. On ihe substantive question for inflicting the line the House again divided. Ayes, 40 ; Noes, 25. The Speaker directed the Sergeat-at-Arms to summon Mr Gisborne, wbo, on mak-ng his appearance, was received with applause. The Speaker—The decision arrived at by the House in your absence is that you, Mr Gisborne, have been guilty of wilful disobedience, and have thereby ilecl wed you to have been guilty of contempt and a penalty of £2O is recorded against you. The penalty is payable at once, and until it is paid you are not permitted to resume your seat. Mr Gisbo' iio said be was actuated in the course he bad token by- no other motive than a desire of enabling that House to got consideration of a subject which lie believed (he ruling of the Chairman of Committee distinctly p.omised.

Mr Gisborne then retired, and was loudly applauded for doing so.

The Speaker said he felt perfectly ashamed of the manner in which the business bad been obstructed. He mentioned the matter principally with the view of assuring lion metnbeis in order that there might be no further mistake made in supposing that there was no power by which a deadlock of this kind could be removed. In the exercise of that power he, for one, would not flinch from the discharge of the duty entrusted to him.

Sept. 3. Mr Hurst moved lhat “this Act shall continue iu force till 1887, aud no longer.” The Ministry' accepted Hie amendment, and it was added to the Bill by 31 to 21. On the motion of Mr Hall, it was carried that the Committee discuss the schedules of the Bill. Several amendments were proposed, but were lost, and the House had not adjourned at noon to-day.